In the spring of 2025, students from the Faculty of Business and Economics and the Faculty of Health and Sports Sciences at Széchenyi István University took part in a professional study trip to the Sárvár Spa and Wellness Centre as part of their Spa Management course. The visit provided a unique opportunity for students to experience how the theoretical foundations of spa operations are applied in practice.

The group was welcomed by Zsanett Pintérné Zámbó, the Spa’s Quality Assurance Manager and HR Specialist, who guided the students through the facility. Participants toured the machine room to learn about the operational infrastructure and also explored front-facing areas such as the medical treatment rooms. The expert host answered students’ professional questions in detail, making the study trip a truly interactive learning experience.

A special highlight of the program was that students were not only passive observers but also had the chance to try out the spa’s services themselves. Saunas, medicinal pools, and recreational spaces offered both relaxation and experiential learning.

Zsanett Pintérné Zámbó emphasized that the visit was also beneficial for the spa, allowing it to build long-term connections with students who may become future employees.

For the course instructor, Erzsébet Dr. Printz-Markó, the field trip served as a valuable methodological supplement to classroom teaching. For students, it provided a chance to enrich their theoretical knowledge through real-world experience.

Áron Varga, a Tourism and Hospitality student, reflected on the educational value of the visit:
“It was incredibly useful to see how such a complex facility operates. We now understand the terms prevention and recreation not just in theory but in practice as well. Sauna sessions and resting in the medicinal pool were the perfect way to end the day.”

The collaboration does not stop there. As a continuation of the partnership, Zsanett Pintérné Zámbó will also visit the Győr campus as a guest lecturer. 

She will share first-hand insights into the spa qualification system and the specific experiences of the Sárvár facility.

Moreover, the semester-long project task linked to the Spa Management course will focus on the Sárvár Spa, allowing students to delve deeper into the operations of a real market player. This cooperation is mutually beneficial: students gain hands-on professional experience and project management skills, while the spa benefits from fresh perspectives and innovative ideas provided by student work.

The study trip and the ongoing collaboration serve as a prime example of how university education can become practice-oriented, experience-based, and directly valuable to both the labor market and regional service providers.

The trip to Sárvár was made possible through the support of the Student Union (HÖK), while the entrance tickets were generously covered by an anonymous sponsor — a thoughtful gesture greatly appreciated by the student community.

Photo: Erzsébet Printz-Markó PhD