The University of Pannonia signed a cooperation agreement with WIZZ Air Hungary Ltd. on 7 September 2026. The aim of the strategic partnership is to connect university education with the practical knowledge of the aviation industry and create new professional and career opportunities for students.
As part of the partnership, students will have the opportunity to learn about WIZZ Air’s operations through professional visits. In addition, as an official internship partner of the University of Pannonia, the airline may provide internship opportunities for Hungarian and international students who meet its selection criteria. The cooperation will also strengthen practice-oriented education: WIZZ Air professionals will be able to share their experience through guest lectures, while within the framework of the Talent Academy, student teams will work on real-life business challenges with the support of university and corporate mentors.
The partnership is also linked to the University of Pannonia’s Aviation Services Manager Executive Diploma Programme, which focuses on providing a comprehensive understanding of the aviation industry and delivering up-to-date business and management knowledge required in this field. The programme was launched in Hungarian in February 2026 by the AACSB-accredited Faculty of Business and Economics of the University of Pannonia, as the first programme of its kind in Hungary, and will also be launched in English in autumn 2026.
The two organisations will also mutually participate in each other’s professional programmes and events, further strengthening the relationship between the university and the corporate sector. The long-term partnership will thus offer new opportunities for University of Pannonia students in several areas, including education, talent development, gaining professional experience and career development.
Prof. Dr. János Abonyi, Rector of the University of Pannonia, emphasised in his speech that one of the key objectives of the University’s student-centred approach is to provide students with knowledge and competencies that will remain valuable in the long term and help them build successful professional careers. He highlighted that student-centred education is not only about acquiring professional knowledge, but also about enabling young people to adapt to a constantly changing environment, continue to develop, and make confident decisions throughout their careers. Achieving this requires strong corporate partners that complement the knowledge acquired at the University with up-to-date industry expertise, professional experience and real-world challenges. Prof. Dr. János Abonyi expressed his pleasure that the University of Pannonia has found in WIZZ Air an international partner with which it shares a commitment to professional excellence and to supporting the development of talented and ambitious young people. He emphasised that partnerships of this kind enable students to build valuable professional relationships, gain new perspectives and make more informed decisions about their career paths. The Rector expressed his confidence that the opportunities created by the new partnership will translate into tangible results and generate long-term value for students, the University of Pannonia and WIZZ Air alike.
Marion Geoffroy, People Officer at WIZZ Air, highlighted in her speech that the partnership creates a bridge between education and industry, bringing students closer to the real-world professional challenges and opportunities of the aviation sector. She emphasised that in a dynamically changing industry such as aviation, continuous learning, adaptability and openness to new experiences are among the most important prerequisites for success. In this context, she also referred to WIZZ Air’s ULTRA framework, built around five pillars – Unstoppable Growth, Lively Environment, Top-Tier Team, Real Impact and Aviation Passion – reflecting the importance of continuous development, an inspiring work environment, an outstanding team, making a real impact and a passion for aviation. Through internships, company visits, guest lectures, student projects and mentoring opportunities offered as part of the partnership, young people will be able to experience first-hand how the knowledge gained at university can translate into real professional value. Reflecting on her own career journey, Marion Geoffroy pointed out that a single opportunity at the right time can shape the direction of an entire professional career. For this reason, the significance of the agreement signed today goes beyond formal cooperation between the two organisations: it creates a connection between education and professional opportunities that can open up new paths for students. She added that WIZZ Air looks forward to the programmes to be developed jointly with the University of Pannonia and to a successful long-term partnership.
Evgenia Ivanova, Head of Recruitment, Organization Development and Compensation at WIZZ Air, highlighted in her speech that the world of aviation offers far more career opportunities than those traditionally associated with the industry: operating a modern airline requires professionals across a wide range of fields, from operations and customer experience to finance, HR, marketing and technology. Reflecting on her own experience at the beginning of her career, she emphasised that career development often starts not with a perfectly planned path, but with an opportunity that comes at the right time, providing a chance to learn, meet professionals and gain practical insight into how a business operates. She also highlighted the University of Pannonia’s Aviation Services Manager Executive Diploma Programme, which, with WIZZ Air as a professional partner, combines academic knowledge with practical insights into the aviation industry and focuses on areas such as customer experience, sustainability, safety, business strategy, service innovation and international collaboration.
In her speech, she also referred to Unstoppable Growth, the first pillar of WIZZ Air’s ULTRA framework, emphasising that development requires exposure to real challenges, learning from experienced professionals and participating in projects that have a genuine impact. The guest lectures, internships, company visits and joint projects offered through the partnership provide University of Pannonia students with exactly these kinds of experiences, while giving them a broader understanding of the career paths available in aviation. Evgenia Ivanova expressed her hope that some of the students participating in these programmes will eventually join the WIZZ Air team, but stressed that even more importantly, students should leave university with the knowledge, skills, professional connections and confidence they need to build successful careers.
The cooperation between the University of Pannonia and WIZZ Air will strengthen the connection between academic knowledge and practical experience in the aviation industry in the long term. Through the partnership, students will be able to gain experience in a real corporate environment during their university years, build professional relationships and gain closer access to the career opportunities offered by the international aviation industry. At the same time, the cooperation will contribute to the University of Pannonia’s efforts to prepare its students for the challenges of the future through practice-oriented programmes that respond to the needs of the labour market.