HEC sends off 259 students to Hungary under scholarship programme

Islamabad: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) held a send-off ceremony for 259 students who have won scholarships to study in top Hungarian universities at different levels under the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Programme.

Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui was chief guest of the ceremony, while Chairman HEC Nadeem Mahbub, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Hungary in Islamabad Dr. Dora Gunsberger, Advisor Human Resource Development Division HEC Engr. Muhammad Raza Chohan and other notables were also present on the occasion. The ceremony was attended by faculty and parents of the scholarship recipients.

Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Programme is a fully-funded initiative for Bachelor's, Master's, One-Tier Master's, and PhD studies across various disciplines, including Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Arts and Humanities, Biological Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Health Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences.

Addressing the ceremony, the Federal Minister Dr. Siddiqui congratulated the scholarship recipients on their accomplishment. He appreciated HEC and Embassy of Hungary for taking forward the collaborative bilateral relations. He said Pakistan is a developing country blessed with a huge young population. “We need such opportunities for our youth,” he said and underlined that such privileges not only bring pride but also immense responsibilities. He hoped that the youth will realize their full potential, exploit the opportunity, and fulfill their responsibilities in the future.

Extending congratulations to the students and parents, Chairman HEC Nadeem Mahbub underscored that HEC is always committed to creating opportunities for the country’s youth. “We are thankful to Hungary for gradually increasing the number of scholarships,” he emphasized. He asserted that the scholarship programme is an investment and will serve both countries. It is, he exclaimed, good to see awardees from all areas of Pakistan, e.g., Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan, interior Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, etc. He termed the award ceremony as a moment of pride for the awardees, as they were selected among 1400 applicants.

“You are going to represent Pakistan at international level, so make the best use of this opportunity,” the Chairman advised the students. Expressing his confidence in the potential of Pakistani students, he said the youth of this country are second to none. He hoped that their academic journey and exposure will not only bring positive change to their lives, but it will also harness their capabilities to serve the nation.

Deputy Head of Mission Dr. Dora Gunsberger expressed her pleasure on seeing happy faces. She shed light on the start of programme in 2016 with a few scholarships, followed by gradual increase in the number over the years.