Students at Széchenyi István University can gain international academic and professional experience through a range of global mobility programmes. Márton Palatkás is one of those who have taken advantage of these opportunities, as well as scholarships offered by foreign countries. Through these programmes, he has travelled to India, South Korea and China, and most recently, Japan.

Márton Palatkás graduated from the English-taught Bachelor’s programme in International Studies at Széchenyi István University and continued his studies at the Kautz Gyula Faculty of Business and Economics, where he pursued a Master’s degree in International Economy and Business. As a participant in the University’s joint dual-degree programme with Integral University, he spent one semester studying in India. Later, he spent three months in South Korea through the Pannónia Scholarship Programme, while a Chinese Government Scholarship enabled him to spend six days in China. Following these experiences, he was awarded the MIRAI Scholarship programme launched by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Márton Palatkás (third from the right) recently shared his experiences in Japan with fellow students during a presentation at Széchenyi István University. In our photograph, he is seen alongside representatives of the University and the Embassy of Japan. (Photo: András Adorján)

The MIRAI programme — meaning “future” in Japanese — aims to strengthen relations between young professionals, university students and future leaders from Japan, Central Asia and Europe. More than 6,000 people applied for the initiative, which is operated by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Japan International Cooperation Center, with only 60 participants ultimately selected.

As a member of the programme’s thematic group focusing on diplomacy and security policy, the young graduate of the Győr-based university spent one week in Tokyo, where the group visited ministries, universities and several other institutions. Among the experiences that made the strongest impression on him were his visit to the National Museum of Territory and Sovereignty, where he was able to explore Japan’s historical and territorial issues from a different perspective, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, which provided insight into the country’s role in international development. The professional activities were complemented by cultural experiences.

Márton Palatkás (left) at the closing ceremony of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ MIRAI programme, together with participants from Romania, Germany and Iceland. The certificates they are holding confirm the successful completion of the programme.

“The most important lesson for me was that the key question is not necessarily who is right or whose side we should be on. Often, it is much more important to accept and understand that different countries and cultures represent different perspectives and consider different things to be true. Understanding and respecting these perspectives is worth more than simply taking a position based on global trends or popular, sometimes oversimplified narratives. This is exactly what international study trips provide: they help us think more openly and see the world from different perspectives,” Márton Palatkás emphasised. “Thanks in part to the scholarship and mobility programmes available at Széchenyi István University, I have been able to study in several countries and gain valuable experiences within just a few years. Each journey has contributed to my personal and professional development, which is why I encourage every student to take advantage of these opportunities.”

Márton Palatkás at the Summer Palace (Yiheyuan) in Beijing, one of China’s most renowned World Heritage Sites.

Márton Palatkás (second from the left) at an international business and economics conference organised by Integral University in Lucknow, India.