Dr. Béla Merkely, Rector of Semmelweis University delivered a speech, and Dr. Marcel Pop, Director of the Directorate of International Relations introduced the history of the 250-year-old Semmelweis University as well as the foreign language programs of the institution in his presentation held at the event entitled “Higher education in Hungary – online educational expo 2020”.
The event entitled “Higher education in Hungary – online educational expo 2020” organized by the Sino-European Foundation of Chinese Culture and Education was held between 1-4 December, 2020. Participants of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Sino-European Foundation and several Hungarian higher education institutions, including Semmelweis University attended the event. The participants, who were interested in Hungarian higher education, primarily Chinese students, could join the programs virtually, which were held in three languages: Hungarian, Chinese and English.
On the occasion of the official event opening held on 1 December, Anny Gao, President of the Sino-European Foundation and Dr. Orsolya Pacsay-Tomassich, State Secretary greeted the participants. Afterwards Dr. Béla Merkely greeted the audience in English. The rector introduced Semmelweis University and he elaborated on the Chinese relations of the institution by emphasizing that collaborations with Chinese partners stretches back decades and are continuously developing. Dr. Merkely expressed his appreciation that the Sino-European Foundation opened three agencies in Beijing this year: the aim of the education organizer and promotion agencies is to provide an opportunity to many Chinese students to continue their studies in Hungary and to contribute to the dissemination of Hungarian higher education in China. Besides this, Semmelweis University started the negotiations with the Sino-European Foundation this year in order to be able to provide an opportunity to even more Chinese students to continue their studies in the university’s training programs in the near future. Finally, Dr. Béla Merkely highlighted the international nature of the university and he briefly referred to the changes concerning education due to the current epidemiological situation this academic year.
Afterwords, the rectors of the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music and the Hungarian University of Fine Arts delivered their speeches. The event opening ended with the introduction of the scholarship program of Tempus Public Foundation.
The second day of the international event focused on institutions providing arts education, and on the third day, on 3 December the areas of sports, medicine and economics had the opportunity to introduce themselves. The program was started with the English language presentation held by Dr. Marcel Pop. The director of the Directorate of International Relations introduced the history of the 250-year-old Semmelweis University and the foreign language programs of the institution. After a brief overview of each faculty, he elaborated on the programs offered by the Faculty of Health Sciences, András Pető Faculty and the School of PhD Studies in details, since primarily these faculties anticipate applicants the most. The presentation ended with the introduction of Semmelweis University’s Chinese relations, by emphasizing their longstanding existence and outstanding significance, as well as the support provided by the Chinese partner institutions in the current epidemiological situation. After the presentation, Dr. Marcel Pop also answered questions, the participants were primarily interested in entrance examination requirements and the Chinese partner institutions.
Afterwords, the presentations of the Budapest Business School and the University of Physical Education were held, and finally the program ended with the personal accounts of Chinese students studying in Hungary. On the last day of the event, Hungarian higher education institutions offering technical and economic education had the opportunity to introduce their training programs.
Directorate of International Relations
Photo: Higher education in Hungary – online educational expo 2020, Directorate of International Relations
Translation: Katalin Illés-Romhányi
