“All my teachers at GEO have made a huge impact on me, as they were all the best in their profession and did their best to ensure that we had all learnt their skills.”
Interview with Sándor Gábor, surveyor and land surveyor, who works at the Land Registry Department of the Békés County Government Office
(Twelfth part of the alumni interview series)
What was your motivation for choosing our university or its predecessor institutions?
I learned the basics of the profession in high school, where my teachers always talked about their experiences at college in Székesfehérvár with sparkling eyes.When I was 12, when the question of further studies came up, all my teachers were unanimous in their support of GEO, so I didn’t think about any other options. In addition to the above, my parents have always supported and encouraged me, as I was the first in the family to graduate and eventually get a degree.
Exactly which predecessor institution did you study at? Which degree(s) did you obtain?
I received my Bachelor’s degree in Geoinformatics from the Faculty of Geoinformatics of the University of West Hungary (ÓE Alba Regia Faculty of Engineering) in 2009 as a land surveyor and land surveyor engineer. In 2011 I applied for a Master’s degree, so in 2013 I received my Master’s degree as a land surveyor engineer.
Did you have a teacher you looked up to? What message/perspective/knowledge did he or she enrich you with?
All my teachers at GEO were a great influence on me, as they were all the best in their profession and did their best to ensure that we all learnt their skills. So, in hindsight, I would like to thank them all for their support and help at the time.
I would like to highlight Dr. Szabolcs Csepregi, Dr. Mihály Ágfalvi, Dr. György Busics and Róbert Gyenes
among my professional teachers. All of them have radiated the professional humility that I have learned from them through their lectures, practicals and the resulting private discussions, which I hope others will see in me in my everyday life.
Can you recall your first memory of university?
My first memory is before I started university, when as a high school student my class teacher and I visited the national professional studies competition at GEO, and I was already struck by the friendly, family-like atmosphere of the university. Upon entering the building, the receptionist, Aunt Ilonka, greeted my class teacher with such enthusiasm and friendliness as if she were still studying there.
Did the institution give you a life-long passport?
Love, respect, friendships and a lifetime of positive memories.
Did you find time to have fun while you were studying? What were your student years like at university?
Of course! I’m not saying that we partied regularly, but we did make time for that as well as submissions. 🙂
Can you describe what you loved most about the university?
The family-like and friendly atmosphere, and the summer measurement camps, where we bonded even more.
What opportunities do you see in higher education today?
We can only talk about an opportunity if the higher education institution teachers are knowledgeable about the latest technologies. My view is that Generation Z no longer wants to hear about the past, and without knowing the past, it is difficult to understand the science of the present and the future.
Any advice for today’s youth on how to choose a university/career for themselves?
I would recommend that you base your choice of university on the experience of family and friends, as it is difficult to build a career without a good educational foundation.
Can you recall a memorable moment that links you to our university?
During my studies, we went on several professional excursions, one of the most memorable for me was when we went hundreds of metres underground in the Márkushegy Mine, first by lift, then by conveyor belt to the place where the coal was being extracted, and we learned about underground geodesy. In addition to the field trips, I still remember the measuring exercises I had the pleasure of taking part in with some of my teachers.
To what extent can you use what you have learned at our institution in your workplace?
In the beginning I could only partially use what I had learned, but as time went by, a measurement task came up that I had seen in the exercises or that gave me ideas for a solution.
Did you want to do this as a child or did you have other “career dreams”?
My childhood dream was to become a gardener and an architect, and when I chose a career in high school, I applied for a degree in surveying technology alongside civil engineering due to the advice of a family friend. After the entrance exam, I only got into surveying technology, which I experienced as a tragedy, but after starting secondary school I had no regrets, I felt I was in the right place.
With a degree in hand, what were the first few steps you took to further your career?
After passing the state exam, I checked the university’s careers notice board for current vacancies, which included a summer opportunity at a land office near my home. I started there on Monday the following week.
Did you have a supporter who helped you at the beginning of your career?
Yes, Dr György Busics has been keeping an eye on my career and we have been in touch since I came across him at the university.
