Széchenyi István University participated in the most prestigious international higher education conference and exhibition in Europe, which was held this year in Toulouse, France. The staff of the University of Győr discussed opportunities for future cooperation with more than forty existing and potential partners.

More than 7,300 professionals attended the European Association for International Education (EAIE) conference in Toulouse from 110 countries. The annual event aims to strengthen internationalisation, build links between institutions and share experiences. Széchenyi István University was represented by Kinga Kerpics, International Programmes Officer of the Mobility and Scholarship Unit of the Centre for International Programmes and Alumni, and Zoltán Ködmön, Graduate Teaching Assistant of the Department of International Studies and Communication at the Apáczai Csere János Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.

Kinga Kerpics (on the left) and Zoltán Ködmön (on the right) from Széchenyi István University with representatives from the Baden-Württemberg University in Germany at the Hungarian stand

"Our goal was to further strengthen our international presence. We not only met with several existing partners but also established many new connections. We showcased our programs, research areas, corporate partnerships, services, and student life, engaging with over 40 institutions during the four days," said Ms. Kerpics. She added that the first day of the conference was focused on presentations, with a wide range of up-to-date information and good practices, while the second day was dedicated to exhibition stands and professional discussions.

"Several Hungarian institutions presented themselves jointly under the banner of ‘Study in Hungary’. This was a key point of contact for those interested in our programmes, and we also visited many other institutions' booths. We held discussions with potential partners from around the globe, from South America to China. In Europe, we had talks with universities from countries including France, the Netherlands, Austria, and Germany. The automotive industry and Audi were common interests, but our engineering and economics programmes also garnered significant attention," she said.

The International Programmes Officer noted that Széchenyi University pays particular attention to internationalisation. The institution now offers more than forty English-taught programmes, with around one thousand international students from nearly eighty countries. The University hosts visiting professors and runs double degree programmes with universities in the United States, China, India, Italy and Portugal. He added that the institution also provides opportunities for young Hungarians to gain international experience. A new element of this is the Pannonia Scholarship Programme, which has quickly become very popular. "The new links also serve the purpose of further expanding the international opportunities for students and teachers," concluded Kinga Kerpics.