Last weekend the 28th Transylvanian Scientific Students’ Conference in Real Sciences and Humanities took place in Cluj-Napoca. Several students from the Codespring Mentoring Programme participated in the computer science section of the competition and achieved excellent results.
The Inter- and Multidisciplinary Presence of AI in Everyday Life
On May 15, 2025, the 28th Transylvanian Scientific Student Conference in Natural and Human Sciences (28th ETDK) was officially opened at the main building of Babeș–Bolyai University (UBB) by Professor Dr. Zoltán Horváth, Head of the Department of the Institute of Computer Science at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest and Honorary Doctor of UBB. His keynote lecture, The Strengthening Inter- and Multidisciplinary Presence of Computer Science in the Context of Artificial Intelligence, addressed the growing integration of AI into various research fields. Dr. Horváth emphasized to students, jury members, academic supervisors, and guests alike that life without computer science is becoming increasingly unimaginable:
“Artificial intelligence is not only redefining computer science but also the boundaries of social sciences, the fine arts, the law, and numerous other disciplines,” he noted in his lecture.
The festive mood of the opening gala was elevated by a performance from the Musichorum choir.
What the Jury Members Say about the IT Sections
In previous years, the ETDK Programme featured two computer science sections: one focused more on theoretical, mathematical-informatics research, while the other concentrated on practical, applied informatics. This year, due to the large number of submissions, the jury and the organizer — the Hungarian Student Association of Cluj — decided to evaluate the projects across three separate sections.
Dr. Csaba Sulyok, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science at UBB and ETDK jury member, highlighted:
“The selected topics show a growing interest in hyped technologies such as applied artificial intelligence, AR/VR, hardware integration, and cybersecurity,”
and he was pleased to see that the submissions were not simple school proiects.
According to Dr. Károly Simon, also an Assistant Professor at BBU’s Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science and member of the jury, the IT-sector was extremely competitive, with twice as many submissions in the innovative computing products and applications section – compared to last year.
“Both the topics and the presentation quality were outstanding, and the high quantity didn’t come at the cost of quality. It would have been difficult to fairly judge the submissions without awarding joint prizes,” he admitted.
Codespring Mentoring Programme Participants at the 28th ETDK
As in the past 12 years, students involved in the Codespring MentorING Programme participated in large numbers at this year’s ETDK. Fifteen students presented eight papers on a wide range of topics: from non-linear storytelling and institutional e-voting, to an AI-powered app for traffic rules learning, robot motion synchronization with virtual spaces, and AR-supported surgical metric visualization, among others.
Once again, the mentorship teams achieved excellent results!
First Place and Qualification for the National Scientific Student Conference (OTDK):
- Andrea B. and Adrienn-Barbara Sz. presented the research StoryGraph: Collaborative Storytelling and Visual Management of Nonlinear Narratives – mentored by Bence and Ákos.
- Szilárd F. and Walter M. presented Accurate Positioning Using Ultra-Wide-Band: Application Possibilities of a Promising Technology – mentored by Lóránt and Dávid.
- Levente D. and Beniamin D. worked on Automated Testing of Interactive Devices Using a Robotic Arm and Object Recognition – mentored by Dénes, Arnold, Gyöngyi, and Bálint.
Second Place and OTDK Qualification:
- Ákos K. and Gábor H. with the project B.o.B.: A Chatbot Based on Intelligent Document Usage – mentored by Kinga and Eszter.
Third Place and Participation at the OTDK:
- Norbert B. and Gergő K. with VoteHub: Voting System for Official Institutions and Community Organizations – mentored by Kata and Bálint.
- Szabolcs Z., mentored by Erika and Tas, presented Graveyard Navigator: An App to Assist Cemetery Navigation and Grave Location.
Special Mention:
- Gergő J. and Gellért-Szabolcs P. presented Watch My Project: Public Tracking of Community Project Progress – mentored by Szabolcs and Hunor.
- Janka M.-L. and Áron-Dániel M. presented Holocaust Memorial Application – mentored by Levente and Roland.
About ETDK
The Transylvanian Scientific Student Conference in Natural and Human Sciences – known simply as ETDK – is a major annual event for students in Cluj-Napoca and across Transylvania. Organized by the Hungarian Students’ Union of Cluj-Napoca, its professional partner is the Babeș–Bolyai University.
In 2025, students registered their work in 43 sections at ETDK. Hundreds of selected projects were presented before a professional jury – a challenge that helps students develop skills useful for defending their theses and for their future academic or professional careers. “ETDK is an excellent opportunity for Hungarian students to get acquainted with the world of science, gain recognition, network, and lay the foundation for their future careers. The awardees have qualified for the National Scientific Student Conference (OTDK), held every two years. This year’s winners will participate in the 38th OTDK in 2027,” said Dorottya Csongrád, main organizer of the 28th ETDK, as quoted on the event’s website.
About the Codespring Mentoring Programme
The Codespring Mentor Programme, in Hungarian language, with the support of dedicated mentors, offers students a chance to deepen their university knowledge and acquire competitive IT skills in a great team environment. If you’re studying informatics or computer science in Cluj-Napoca or Târgu Mureș and want to learn more about our training Programme let’s get in touch!
The Programme is organized by Codespring | Softech, one of the most well-known software development company in Transylvania. With a 27 years old history an d a continuous organic growth, it is strongly committed to supporting professional development for both employees and mentored students.
