The Aurum Futuri award is intended to recognise top talents in education and research at the university. In this vein, it was presented to two professionals who have made a tremendous contribution to introducing students in Hungarian higher education to modern international design methodologies, developing new and innovative training formats, and using design tools to improve the quality of life of children and inhabitants of disadvantaged villages and towns. 

Fanni Csernátony teaches, researches, and develops design methodologies in addition to working as a service designer. As a mentor and leader, she exemplifies that teaching is also about building human relationships and supporting personal growth rather than just imparting information. She took a leading role in developing several innovative training programmes, heading the Design Solfege compulsory course of the Design and Theoretical Studies BA programme between 2015 and 2020 before becoming the head of the Product Design BA programme. She has been heavily involved in authoring paradigm-shifting books such as Design Thinking in Public Education, while her research focuses on participatory methods relying on engagement.  

Dr. Bori Fehér as an associate of the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design has been engaged in social design and architecture research over the past nearly 15 years, with a special focus on disadvantaged communities. Her latest exemplary research projects include ‘Fields of Presence’ implemented jointly with the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta. Education is also a major priority for her, introducing generations of MOME students to the basics and methodology of social design research as part of practical projects at her interdisciplinary courses. In recent years, she has been working towards expanding the university’s international scientific network, including the Social Design Network. Founded with her involvement in 2020, it comprises 30 social design thinkers and professionals across the globe. 

The Aurum Futuri excellence award has two varieties – one for teachers and one for researchers. Any MOME citizen can nominate candidates for the award that comes with a trophy and cash prize. Funded by the Foundation for Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design, it is awarded based on the candidate’s impact on both the faculty and student communities. 

“The daily productivity of a university depends on the accomplishments of its teachers and researchers. Our objectives and ambitions can only be achieved by honouring and recognising their work. As part of MOME’s model change, we first decided to grant the greatest pay rise in the history of the university, and now to present the Aurum Futuri awards to provide special recognition to our top talents and elevate them as role models”, said President of the Foundation Gergely Böszörményi-Nagy, explaining the significance of the award. 

While the teaching award is designed to encourage innovations in education and highlight the need for constant methodological improvements and the value of learning support, the research award is focused on impressing the importance of the research activity in a deserving fashion. In both cases, it is vital to ensure a wide dissemination of the achievements and practices of the award recipients.  

The name of the award is a reference to the activities and values of teachers and researchers shaping the future – the ‘gold of future’. Everything that teachers do by teaching, mentoring, and encouraging mental exercise, and that researchers create through research benefitting society over the long term, is intended to improve the life of generations to come.