Hungarian Conservative

As Hungary’s premier higher education institution covering the full spectrum of teacher training, it is particularly important for ELTE that 20 per cent of those admitted will start their studies as teacher trainees. Numerically, this means that ELTE admitted the highest number of applicants (2,500) to teacher training in the last 15 years.

One of the key pillars of the state-funded John von Neumann programme is the development of science parks. The newly inaugurated pilot research laboratory at the University of Debrecen, where pharmaceutical development and small-scale production activities will be conducted in a biosafety level 2 (BSL2) work environment, was built with a grant from the programme.

The aim of the HU-rizont programme is to facilitate and strengthen the international collaboration of outstanding Hungarian researchers. A total of 8 billion forints are available for the application this year. During the application process, not only the research costs of Hungarian universities are covered, but also those of foreign universities are supported.

State Secretary for Innovation Balázs Hankó reiterated that the John von Neumann Programme focuses on three main areas: healthy living, digitalization, and green transition. The tender has been launched, and all universities are encouraged to apply, he noted.

‘There is a lot of interest from universities, professors, and students in studying in Europe, because we can offer an affordable degree and high-quality education in a world-class city. After half a year of training or education, students and teachers develop a commitment to Hungary that is a huge asset for the future.’

The state secretary articulated the vital goal that the number of university graduates among the Hungarian diaspora should exceed their representation within their respective countries, with universities becoming cultural hubs for Hungarian communities abroad. He called the opening of the Márton Áron College’s renovated building a defining moment in infrastructure development.

Deputy State Secretary for Higher Education at the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and Innovation Veronika Varga-Bajusz talked about the challenges of preserving the identity of Hungarians beyond the border. She stressed the importance of creating opportunities for young Hungarians to study and work in their homeland, as it serves the development and strengthening of the Carpathian Basin. She stated that as long as there are knowledge-seeking Hungarian youths, there is a Hungarian future.

Budapest’s inclusion in the list of top student cities is the result of its exceptional educational institutions, rich cultural heritage, affordable living costs, student-friendly environment, and excellent transportation infrastructure.

The goal of the MCC Plus programme is to make the unique talent development programmes of the Mathias Corvinus Collegium available to a wide range of individuals. It allows talented students who cannot take advantage of the residential dormitory option due to their university and other commitments, but have performed exceptionally well in the entrance exam, access to MCC’s training programmes.

Speaking at the EU-PED Day of the university, on which all educators working in Hungarian-language tertiary education are celebrated, Mihály Varga reminded that the goal of the government with the transformation of higher education and the introduction of dual education was for universities to become ‘intellectual centres that define and broaden the country’s development opportunities.’

The Career Orientation Measurement and Support Tool (POM) can be accessed on the website of the Education Office. On the online platform, students can complete various questionnaires, and based on their answers, the programme shows the fields of expertise and occupations that best suit each student’s personality, interests, and competencies.

Applications for the student talent development programme are open until 24 April 2023, university students from any academic field can apply. The special training takes six semesters to finish.

Re-reading Bloom’s book, we must acknowledge that there indeed existed a thorough and fierce analysis drawing attention to the decline of university life already decades ago. Unfortunately, this appeal was ignored.

Hungarian students boast outstanding achievements at the top universities of the world. Hungarian Conservative spoke to talent grooming institutions Stipendium Peregrinum and Milestone Institute about how they help talented young Hungarians.

Loved and criticised, enjoyed and hated — the university experience is different for everyone. For Hungarian students, recent years have been a rollercoaster. With more changes in higher education coming, it is time for some stocktaking.

Whether state-financed or partially state-financed, the ultimate question regarding higher education is whether it produces highly qualified individuals with a set of skills and knowledge that are useful and profitable for them and for their communities, or not.