Our report summarizes the January 2025 meetings and updates organized concerning Semmelweis University’s international relations.
Dr. Béla Merkely, Rector, welcomed Professor Dr. İbrahim Özcoşar, Rector of the turkish Mardin Artuklu University, and Associate Professor Serkan Yiğit. During the meeting, a memorandum of understanding was signed, providing a framework for the development of concrete cooperation projects in the future. Rector Merkely assured the Turkish university’s leadership that Semmelweis University will explore possibilities for future collaborations.
Dr. Béla Merkely, Rector, also hosted Dr. Heba Negm, Egypt’s Ambassador to Hungary, who offered her support in fostering academic and research partnerships between Egypt and Hungary. Rector Merkely briefly presented Semmelweis University’s activities, then Ambassador Negm highlighted that following the rectorial conferences held in Egypt last year, the Hungarian-Egyptian Forum, which will be organized in Budapest in 2025 by the MRK (Hungarian Rectors’ Conference), will be a good opportunity to develop Hungarian-Egyptian relations.
Dr. Péter Nyirády, Professor, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, and Director of the Department of Urology, presented a certificate of completion to a Kazakh urologist who successfully completed a two-month clinical training program organized by the International Relations Directorate in collaboration with the Department of Urology. The specialist, who took part in the tailor-made short program, found the experience at Semmelweis University highly valuable and became familiar with new methods in several professional areas, including urological oncology, robotic-assisted urology, and fusion prostate biopsy.
The Head of the Iraqi Mission in Hungary visited Semmelweis University to discuss the progress of previously launched joint projects. The Director of International Relations provided a brief overview of last year’s achievements and plans for 2025. The Iraqi diplomat assured the university of continued support in strengthening Hungarian-Iraqi academic relations.
Dr. Marcel Pop, Head of the International Relations Directorate, and Dr. Vilmos Ivády, Rector’s Commissioner, welcomed Elbek Gaybullaev, founder of the uzbek EMU University, and his delegation. The discussion, facilitated by Semmelweis Kft., focused on EMU University’s internationalization goals and the ways in which Semmelweis University could contribute to achieving these strategic objectives.
Coordinated by the International Relations Directorate, the 8th round of the EUniWell Seed Funding Program is open for applications between January 20 and March 18, 2025. The European University Alliance—comprising 11 institutions from countries including the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and Ukraine—offers €25,000 in funding per project for innovative initiatives proposed by partner universities. All university researchers, lecturers, students, and administrative staff are eligible to apply, and the organizers are looking forward to receiving exciting project proposals.
In January, Semmelweis University hosted its tuition-based Winter Short Program, attended by 14 Chinese medical and PhD students. The two-week intensive theoretical training provided participants with an introduction to Translational Medicine through an immersive training program coordinated by the International Relations Directorate, in collaboration with the Semmelweis University Translational Medicine Center.
