The end-of-year event for MATFIN’s extracurricular high school programme and the first graduating class of its Olympiad School was held on 12 June at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME). Approximately 250 students, teachers, and guests attended the event, including Zoltán Váczy, Deputy State Secretary for Legal and Administrative Affairs at the Ministry of Culture and Innovation. Charaf Hassan, Rector of BME, which hosted the ceremony, expressed his delight at welcoming young talents to the university’s ceremonial hall, where several Nobel laureates had previously received their diplomas.

Established by Nobel Prize-winning physicist Ferenc Krausz, the MATFIN Foundation launched its extracurricular programme for 9th- and 10th-grade high school students in the autumn of 2025. The programme aims to support participants in their preparation for secondary school graduation and subsequent university studies in mathematics, physics, and informatics, while encouraging them to pursue careers in engineering, science teaching, and research. Outstanding teachers in their respective fields were invited to develop the curriculum and teaching materials, and they employ interactive, experience-based methods to bring the worlds of mathematics, physics, and informatics closer to students. In addition to financial compensation, teachers involved in the initiative receive continuous professional development opportunities.

The initiative currently operates in 25 schools across 19 Hungarian cities, which also serve as regional hubs by involving not only their own students but also young people from surrounding communities. Dropout rates have been minimal: of the more than 300 students who joined the extracurricular study groups at the beginning of the school year, over 270 successfully completed the programme. The organizers are continuously expanding the network, with the goal of achieving nationwide coverage.

MATFIN's Olympiad School now operates on an invitation-only basis, offering specialized classes and residential training camps for the most talented students. All but two of the Hungarian contestants participating in this year’s international science olympiads are enrolled in MATFIN’s Olympiad School. In addition to preparing students for competitions, the school places special emphasis on developing critical thinking, creativity, communication skills, adaptability, and emotional intelligence. The work of the 109 exceptionally talented participants is supported by nearly 60 experts recognized in the field of talent development.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dávid Bereczkei, Director of the MATFIN Foundation, announced that additional schools will join the extracurricular study group network next school year. According to the foundation’s plans, each county in Hungary will eventually have at least one school serving as a regional centre. Starting in September, the Olympiad School will be extended by one day, offering intensive training from Wednesday through Saturday to students preparing for competitions.

The MATFIN Foundation supports numerous domestic competitions in Hungary and plans to expand this support year by year. It also provides assistance for participation in international competitions. Furthermore, an international journal, MATPHIN, will be launched, building on the traditions of KöMaL (High School Journal for Mathematics, Physics and Informatics).

Photo: János Kummer | MATFIN Foundation