Altogether 108 Stipendium Hungaricum students from over 31 countries gathered at the event organized by EMMI (Ministry of Human Capacities), the founder of the programme, and by Tempus Foundation, the organization responsible for the scholarship. The participants started their studies in the Autumn semester throughout Hungary.
The students also met special guests; Viktor Orbán prime minister and Zoltán Balogh minister of human capacities took part as keynote speakers at the event. In their welcome speech the politicians said that their long term goal is to involve more and more students from the eastern and southern areas of the world and to develop professional and personal ties, thus spreading the words about the excellence of the Hungarian education. They explained that the government ensures scholarship to 3000 incoming students, and they also plan to extend the grant to 80 countries from the current 45.
After the ceremony students took part in intercultural trainings and also visited the Hungarian National Museum which turned out to be successfull: „I encourage such events and I believe it was very well organized and reflects an open and fresh image of Hungary…It was very fantastic. Certainly, it is going to be a lifelong memory…Brilliantly organised programme” - summed up the participants.
