Dr. Hassan Charaf
Rector of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics and professor of software engineeringAn academic and researcher from Machghara who became rector of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics in 2024 after a career in software engineering, innovation, and industry collaboration.
Biography
Hassan Charaf was born in Machghara in 1967 and moved to Hungary in the late 1980s to study electrical engineering and computer science.
He developed an academic and research career at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, specialising in software engineering, systems, and information technology.
He played leading roles in research and development projects involving Nokia, Nokia Siemens Networks, T-Mobile, and Microsoft Hungary, helping connect university research with the technology sector.
He joined BME’s Department of Automation and Applied Informatics in 1996, became head of the department in 2016, and was appointed dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics in 2019.
The President of Hungary appointed him rector of BME for a five-year term beginning on 1 July 2024. He is a Doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and serves on national research, innovation, and artificial-intelligence bodies.
He was among the pioneers of introducing mobile programming into university curricula, initiated industry-linked education and research programmes, and directed BME’s Mobile Innovation Centre from 2004 to 2015.
Notable Contributions
Led and supported research projects in software engineering and telecommunications.
Contributed to university-industry cooperation with major international technology companies.
Became rector of one of Hungary’s leading technical universities in 2024.
Led initiatives in mobile programming, artificial intelligence, and university-industry cooperation.