Hungarian Government Pushes for Top 100 University Ranking
Hungary Launches Universities 2030 Program to Boost Global Rankings
Hungary has unveiled its ambitious Universities 2030 program, with the goal of having at least one Hungarian university ranked among the top 100 globally and multiple Hungarian universities among Europe’s top 100 within the next five years. Balázs Hankó, the Minister of Culture and Innovation, made this announcement at the “HU-rizont 2025 – Hungarian universities at the forefront” briefing on Monday.
The program aims to elevate Hungarian universities such as Stanford, Singapore, Cambridge, Semmelweis, MATE, Szeged, Debrecen, and Óbuda to international acclaim by 2030. Through collaborations with leading universities in North America, Europe, and Asia, Hungarian universities are set to excel in research areas including health, robotics, informatics, and environmental sustainability.
Minister Hankó highlighted Hungary’s significant progress in universities and research and urged the European Union to take notice. He emphasized the need for a competitive turnaround within the EU, as productivity efficiency in Europe has declined compared to the US. Only four of the top fifty technology companies are based in the EU, reflecting a concerning drop in scientific performance.
Addressing challenges posed by the EU, Minister Hankó emphasized the Hungarian government’s commitment to protecting its researchers and students. Despite passing a law to resolve issues related to EU bans on Hungarian participation in exchange programs, Brussels continues to push for controversial measures. The Minister denounced EU attempts to introduce dictates targeting university governance and potential conflicts of interest based on national or political affiliations.
In response to these challenges, Hungary is relaunching the HU-rizont program this year, offering non-refundable grants to Hungarian-led consortia for research projects. With a budget of 8 billion forints (approximately 20.1 million euros), the government is prepared to support exceptional projects beyond the allocated funds.
Furthermore, the program welcomes applications from universities in border regions, including the Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania in Romania and the Ferenc Rákóczi II Transcarpathian Hungarian College for Higher Education in Ukraine. Minister Hankó expressed hope for these institutions to solidify their positions among the top universities in their respective nations.
The Universities 2030 program signifies Hungary’s determination to enhance its global academic standing and foster innovation in research and education. With unwavering support from the government, Hungarian universities are poised to make significant contributions to the international academic community.
Via Hungarian Nation, Featured Photo Via Pixabay
