Hungarian envoy shows interest in higher education collaboration

Islamabad: Istvan Szabo, ambassador of Hungary to Pakistan, along with a delegation comprising Ms. Agnes Pompos, Deputy Head of Mission and Sandor Mihalko, Counsellor of Hungarian Embassy called on Dr. Ghulam Raza Bhatti, executive director of Higher Education Commission at HEC Secretariat.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed issues pertaining to mutual efforts for promotion of higher education in the two countries.
They also emphasized the need for improving people to people contacts and exchange of students, as they said students studying in any foreign country are ambassadors of their own country, said a news release issued here Wednesday.
They agreed to strengthen relationship in the field of higher education and science adhering to the principles of equality and mutual benefit.
The two sides expressed their plan to strike an MoU on an Exchange Programme between the Ministry of Human Capacities, Government of Hungary, and the Higher Education Commission, Pakistan.
Under the proposed agreement, likely to be made in the coming months, the Hungarian Ministry will inform HEC about new scholarship programmes and will offer scholarships for 80 Pakistani students per year to pursue studies in public sector institutions in Hungary.
After the signing of agreement, as many as 50 places will be finalized for the full BA/BSc study programmes in the fields of agriculture, technical and natural sciences while 20 places will be appointed for full MA/MSc programmes in technology, engineering, economics and natural sciences.
Likewise, under the proposed agreement, 10 scholarships will be awarded for PhD studies in various fields.
The two parties discussed that after striking the said agreement, HEC will provide 10 higher education scholarships for learning of Arabic or Urdu languages in addition to scholarships in literature, Islamic Studies and scientific researches in different disciplines according to the regulations of public sector universities of Pakistan.
Both the dignitaries expressed their willingness to encourage direct relations and signing of agreements for cooperation among universities, higher education institutions and research centres in the two countries. They also wished to exchange publications, teaching materials and curricula to examine how diplomas and scholarly degrees are obtained in the other country.
During the meeting, the two parties agreed to strike the agreement under which they will exchange archaeological experiences and will cooperate in the field of excavation and restoration. They said the details of such exchange will be agreed through diplomatic channels.