This year, over 150 scholarship holders joined from various universities across the capital and countryside. Freshmen were inspired by Miklós Lengyel, Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, who opened the event with uplifting words. Richárd Bodrogi, General Director of Tempus Public Foundation, further encouraged them to embrace every moment—travelling, learning Hungarian, engaging with their university community, and connecting with the Alumni Network Hungary from day one.

Following the speeches, Meray Al Khawajah, a fourth-year medical student at Semmelweis University, shared her journey as a Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship holder. She recounted her experience of being a newcomer in a foreign country, emphasizing her responsibility for both academic and personal growth, and the importance of building bridges between different cultures.

Next, the Stipendium Hungaricum Student Excellence Award and the Hungarian Excellence Award were presented to those who excelled academically and contributed to the Stipendium Hungaricum community. These awards, presented by Miklós Lengyel and Richárd Bodrogi, highlight the impact of dedication and hard work. The Hungarian Excellence Award recognizes students who have studied in full-degree programs in Hungarian or completed preparatory courses in the language.

One of the awardees, Tito Kibet from Sopron University recalled the award ceremony:

“A pivotal moment of the day was the Award Ceremony. I felt an overwhelming sense of pride and gratitude when my name was announced as one of the award recipients representing Sopron University. Receiving this award serves as a significant motivation for me in my career and future endeavours. It reaffirms my dedication to my field of study and inspires me to continue pursuing excellence in my academic journey. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the Tempus Public Foundation for sponsoring me and making this opportunity possible. Their support has not only provided me with financial assistance but has also empowered me to realize my academic dreams.”

After a refreshing lunch break, students were divided into smaller groups for an intercultural workshop and an interactive Hungarian folk dance show. These enriching experiences fostered connections among scholarship holders from diverse countries and universities.

The folk dance ensemble, the Rákospalotai Szilas Néptáncegyüttes Egyesület, evoked the atmosphere of traditional dance houses for the foreign students. After a spectacular dance performance, students had the opportunity to try out several Hungarian folk dances, such as Bökönyi, Rimóci, Dél-alföldi, and Rákospalotai dances.

During the workshops, participants engaged in games that revealed shared experiences of living in Hungary as foreign students. Some discovered that their home countries were over 10,000 kilometres apart, others found mutual acquaintances within the group, while others recognized their shared paths as Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship holders, illustrating the beauty of unity in diversity.

The Stipendium Hungaricum Welcome Event was an inspiring start that has set the stage for a successful academic journey, and we wish all the scholarship holders the very best in their studies in Hungary and beyond.