In 2026, educational, research and professional ties between Semmelweis University and Chinese medical universities continued to expand. Beyond student education, cooperation increasingly encompasses professional mobility, academic collaboration and the development of institutional partnerships.
On 14 July 2026, a delegation from Beijing University of Chinese Medicine visited Semmelweis University, where an agreement on cooperation was signed by Professor Béla Merkely, Rector of Semmelweis University. The two parties discussed opportunities for collaboration in medical education, research, talent development and student mobility. The Chinese delegation also visited the Heart and Vascular Center of Semmelweis University.
As a further milestone in the partnership, the Chinese side invited a delegation from Semmelweis University to the World Conference on Traditional Medicine in Beijing, where Professor Alán Alpár, Vice-Rector for International Affairs, participated in a panel discussion. The visit also provided an opportunity to attend celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine.
First meeting with Capital Medical University
The Semmelweis University delegation visiting Beijing was led by Professor Alán Alpár, Vice-Rector for International Affairs, Head of the Centre for International Training Programmes, and Director of the Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology. The delegation also included Vágó Levente Béla, Deputy Director of the Directorate of International Relations and Alumni Affairs, and Laura Anna Ződi, International Relations Expert.
During the visit, the Semmelweis University delegation held discussions with Vice President Cai Jun, Ma Lu, Director of the Office of International Exchange and Cooperation, and Gao Yan, Deputy Head of the Anatomy, Histology and Embryology Teaching Unit at the School of Basic Medical Sciences. The delegation also visited the anatomical specimen exhibition and the collection of traditional Chinese medicine specimens.
Cooperation between Capital Medical University and Semmelweis University builds on an existing foundation. In 2025, five students from Capital Medical University participated in a visiting student programme at Semmelweis University as part of their fifth-year studies. The students were accompanied by Zhang Haiying, Deputy Director of the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics at Beijing Stomatological Hospital, affiliated with Capital Medical University. The programme formed part of the Chinese university’s Excellence Talent Development Programme and contributed significantly to establishing a foundation for educational cooperation between the two institutions, while expanding opportunities for international learning and professional experience for students.
The recent discussions focused on continuing the Excellence Talent Development Programme. The parties also explored further opportunities for student mobility, clinical and basic medical education, research collaboration, and the exchange of academic staff and other professionals.
Both Capital Medical University and Semmelweis University are specialised higher education institutions with a strong focus on medicine and health sciences. Their academic profiles, disciplinary structures and approaches to talent development share many common features, while their educational systems, clinical resources and internationalisation experience offer complementary strengths. This alignment of priorities and complementary expertise provides a solid foundation for further strengthening institutional cooperation.
Building on their existing achievements, the two universities intend to expand cooperation in medical talent development, clinical teaching, basic medical education, research, and the mobility of academic staff and other professionals. Their shared goal is to explore new opportunities for advancing international medical education and talent development.
From the continuation of Capital Medical University’s Excellence Talent Development Programme to the invitation extended by Beijing University of Chinese Medicine in connection with the World Conference on Traditional Medicine and its 70th anniversary, cooperation between Semmelweis University and Chinese medical universities is developing into a multi-level partnership spanning an increasingly broad range of activities.
Semmelweis University will continue to strengthen its relationships with Capital Medical University and Beijing University of Chinese Medicine through medical education and academic exchange, fostering the implementation of concrete joint projects and exploring new models of international medical education and talent development.