On the second day of his official visit to the United States, Hungary’s Minister for Culture and Innovation Balázs Hankó met with university leaders from Harvard and Yale to strengthen and expand joint academic initiatives between Hungary and the United States.
Following Monday’s meetings focused on innovation at top Boston universities, Tuesday’s agenda centred on the partnership between Harvard Medical School and Semmelweis University. Hankó announced that the two institutions had agreed to allow more students to participate in their existing joint programmes. Additionally, Semmelweis University is expected to become Harvard’s key Central European hub, enabling students from neighbouring countries and across the EU to access the transatlantic curriculum.
The Hungarian minister also introduced elements of the country’s restructured higher education system, including the Pannónia Scholarship Programme and the HU-rizont research initiative. These were presented as new avenues for collaboration, particularly in the context of summer university programmes.
The Hungarian delegation also visited Yale University in Connecticut, where discussions once again focused on academic cooperation. Hankó met with international programme leaders, including Dean Alexander Rosas, to explore ways of involving more Hungarian students in Yale’s summer courses. It was agreed that Yale students could also attend programmes at Hungarian universities, earning academic credit for their participation.
During his visit to Yale, Hankó gave a speech to the university’s student organization, where he discussed Hungary’s higher education system, innovation strategies, and family policies. He also spoke about Hungary’s cultural identity, historical background, and the country’s commitment to national sovereignty. Following the address, students and faculty engaged in a Q&A session with the minister.
The delegation’s US visit continues on Wednesday at Columbia University in New York City, where further talks are scheduled.
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