Attila Faragó, a recent graduate with a master’s degree in autonomous vehicle control engineering, has had an extraordinary journey over the past few years. Starting from Kecskemét, he pursued his master’s degree at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) and gained experience in Germany through an Erasmus scholarship. In this interview, conducted during a break in his final exams, Attila talks about his education, the advantages and challenges of dual education, and his future plans. He discusses the importance of research and development, his experiences in the industry, and his views on the current job market. Through the eyes of a young engineer, we get an insight into the exciting and challenging world of the automotive industry.

Now that you have completed this process, how do you look back on the past few years? Was it a good decision to choose this course?

Attila Faragó: Yes, I did my undergraduate studies in Kecskemét, but I thought it was important to do my master’s at BME. I chose the MSc program in autonomous vehicle control engineering because I was attracted to research and development and wanted to gain deeper knowledge. I don’t regret it; in fact, I also went on an Erasmus exchange to Braunschweig, Germany. The training portfolio there is also very broad, but this MSc program in autonomous vehicle control is unique.

How did your experience compare to your expectations?

Attila Faragó: The MSc program is much more collegial and focuses on the value of acquired knowledge. You can find the area that interests you and delve deeply into it, partly independently and partly through collaborative work at the department. This relationship was very constructive, and my dual education at Knorr-Bremse provided a wide range of knowledge.

Do you feel that the relationship between students and instructors is more supportive?

Attila Faragó: Yes, many courses were taught by doctoral students, which contributed to the success of joint projects. There were also project-based subjects where we could work with doctoral students, giving the education a more informal format.

What are your plans for the future?

Attila Faragó: The automotive industry is currently in a difficult situation; the company where I worked has announced a hiring freeze. My goal now is to find a full-time job, primarily in research and development. I am also interested in the quality assurance field, and in the long term, I can imagine moving abroad, especially to a German-speaking country. I have an intermediate level of German, which could be an advantage for finding a job abroad.

Do you consider moving abroad important for the experience or do you see broader opportunities there?

Attila Faragó: Both. There is a hiring freeze in Hungary, partly due to the economic situation in Germany. Getting into a German industrial or research and development company would be beneficial not only professionally but also for improving my German. This dual advancement would provide valuable experiences in the long term and open up more opportunities for me in the international job market.

Do you feel there are still things you need to learn after university education?

Attila Faragó: Many job advertisements expect specific knowledge and professional experience, which is quite unrealistic to acquire right out of university. There are few junior positions, and an MSc cannot be so specific as to delve deeply into a very specialized field. This can change with a thesis, as you can delve deeply into a specific area during a year of work.

If you do your thesis at a company, does that help build a network?

Attila Faragó: Yes, the goal of dual education is to help students easily integrate into the company after graduation. But the industry does not work like this now; there is no long-term strategy for workforce recruitment. Companies either hire a lot of people suddenly or no one, resulting in fluctuations.

It’s interesting, many company representatives say it’s important for them to connect with students early.

Attila Faragó: This is a good policy, but they do not consider it in the long term. When there is a good year, they expand; when it’s not so good, there is a hiring freeze. This does not ensure a consistent approach. Market processes regulate this, which does not favor long-term planning.

Thank you for the interview, and good luck in the future! Can we take a photo?

Attila Faragó: Of course!

The period of final exams is both exciting and challenging for every student. But what is the experience like from the other side? During a break at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics final exams, we had the opportunity to talk with the members of the examination board about their experiences and impressions.

Interviewees:

• Dr. Krisztián Bán, Associate Professor, Head of the Laser and Vehicle Manufacturing Technologies Research Group, Department of Automotive Technologies, BME, Chairman of the Examination Board
• Dr. Krisztián Kun, Head of Vehicle Technology Research Group, Assistant Professor, John von Neumann University, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Informatics
• Sándor Geszti, Industrial Services Business Unit Director, TÜV Rheinland InterCert Ltd.
• Tamás Zentai, Managing Director, Energotest Ltd.

What is your overall impression of the candidates?

Tamás Zentai: Overall, it’s very positive. We have assessed six candidates so far, five of whom were good and one was excellent. So, my overall impression is very good.

Dr. Krisztián Kun: Our impression is fundamentally positive. The students are well-prepared, not only professionally but also in their presentation skills. Although there are always a few exceptions, most of them presented their work confidently and clearly.

Sándor Geszti: I agree. Although some were nervous, which is natural, this can be overcome with practice in the future. It is crucial that students are able to answer questions and not freeze under pressure.

How well are the graduates prepared to enter the industry?

Tamás Zentai: This is an extremely interesting question. Integration into the real work environment is crucial because true development comes from practical experience. The university can only provide a foundation, but the real growth and learning occur in the actual engineering work. When a fresh graduate claims to be 60-90% ready, they are effectively hindering their own development, as real learning and progress happen after completing their university studies.

Sándor Geszti: Many students are already working in industrial companies while writing their theses, gaining direct experience with corporate processes and decision-making mechanisms. This provides them a significant advantage when starting their careers.

Dr. Krisztián Kun: Indeed, practical knowledge and experience in an industrial setting greatly contribute to the students’ readiness. Those already working in an industrial environment better understand corporate thinking and practical problems.

What practical knowledge is evident in the students, and what do they still need to develop?

Tamás Zentai: They show proficiency in scaling and simulations, but project and topic management is notably lacking. The ability to manage a development project precisely over time is a critical skill they still need to learn.

So, project management?

Tamás Zentai: Yes, both project and development topic management. This is a significant gap.

Sándor Geszti: It’s not so much a deficiency as an area for growth. Students should also learn to discuss the dead ends they encountered during their research. This can help others avoid making the same mistakes in the future.

Dr. Krisztián Kun: Additionally, improving communication skills is important. Although most students performed well, there is always room for improvement. Public presentations and practice defenses can aid in this development.

How do you assess the students’ problem-solving skills?

Sándor Geszti: The students successfully resolved their tasks and received help where necessary. This indicates they are capable of effectively handling engineering problems.

Dr. Krisztián Bán: I agree. The impression from today is that the students have proven themselves capable of engineering work, whether individually or in groups.

Is there a difference between handling company and academic topics?

Dr. Krisztián Kun: Yes, students working in a corporate environment tend to use a more practical approach, while those focusing on academic topics tend to use a more theoretical approach. This naturally depends on their prior experiences.

What communication methods help in students’ preparation?

Tamás Zentai: It is important for students to develop self-awareness, which aids in improving communication skills. For instance, I used to record my practice presentations with a tape recorder, which helped me improve my presentation style.

Sándor Geszti: I support this method as well. Often, I rehearse what I want to say during car rides, which helps me clarify my message and improve my presentation skills.

In summary, how would you evaluate today’s performance?

Dr. Krisztián Bán: The students have demonstrated their capability for engineering work. The critical feedback was more about presentation skills rather than the technical content. Overall, we are very satisfied with today’s performance.

We at BME Automated Drive Lab are excited to announce the successful completion of our latest measurement campaign at the AVL ZalaZONE Proving Ground in cooperation with Virtual Vehicle Research GmbH! This achievement was made possible through the dedication and expertise of our team and partners.

Our campaign focused on several key objectives. We tested relevant scenarios for Automated Lane Keeping Systems (ALKS) according to current standards, gathered validation data for virtual testing, and conducted drone measurements to enhance the ZalaZone Digital Twin. Additionally, we assessed the performance of the BME Central System and compared in-vehicle perception data with ground truth infrastructure data.

This success would not have been possible without the outstanding contributions from the cooperating partners. Jakob Reckenzaun, Martin Kirchengast, and Georg Nestlinger led the campaign with excellent preparation and professional oversight, providing a vehicle with automated driving functionality. András Rövid, Zsolt Vincze, and the BME Automated Drive Lab team participated with the BME vehicle and provided Central System Technology to support automated vehicle testing. Stefan Ladstätter and Daniel Maurer from  Joanneum Research Digital provided the MQTT Backend Server to fuse ground truth and environmental data.

We also received invaluable support from Bálint Tóth, Áron-Máté Heé, and the TÜV Rheinland Group for their expertise in scenario selection and participation with the TÜV vehicle. Leander Hörmann, Albert Pötsch, and Hermann Daniel Ortbauer from the Linz Center of Mechatronics GmbH contributed high-precision real-time weather measurements. Ervin Kerekes and the AVL Hungary team provided outstanding support in organizing and providing measurement equipment. Felix Zust from Bernard Gruppe provided advanced camera-based infrastructure sensors, and Beata Bogár and Nóra Dobos from ZalaZONE InnoTech ensured flawless organization of the event.

Together, we conducted numerous test runs for various scenarios to push the boundaries of automated driving technology, ensuring its safety and efficiency. With the campaign now concluded, our team is diligently analyzing the data to derive meaningful insights that will inform future developments in automated driving systems.

The results of this campaign mark a significant milestone towards the integration of automated driving systems into daily life.

In a bid to bolster Europe’s defense and security, Design Terminal has announced the EUDIS Hackathon. This initiative is part of the European Defence Fund and aims to revitalize the industry with innovative solutions. Targeting entrepreneurial-minded youth, the hackathon seeks solutions to three pre-defined challenges.

The hybrid-format hackathon will focus on digital and data-driven solutions to strengthen Europe’s defense capabilities. Participating teams are tasked with developing innovative proposals to address one of three predetermined challenges: maritime infrastructure protection, development of combat support systems, and cybersecurity.

If you have novel ideas or are eager to work out solutions to the industry’s challenges, seize the opportunity to participate in the EUDIS Hackathon scheduled for June 1st-2nd. Engage in a national-level competition and win a spot in the EU-level finals!

Why Apply?

• Participation in workshops to build business skills
• The winning team advances to an EU-level pitch competition
• Access to valuable networking opportunities with mentors and key industry players
• Chance to win a cash prize of 500,000 HUF

The deadline for applications is May 19th. For further information, visit https://new.ultrahack.org/hackathons/eudis-hackathon-2024-hungary