Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission (HEC) organized a send-off ceremony for the 259 students who have won scholarships to study in top Hungarian universities at different levels under the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Program.
Federal Minister of Education, Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, who was the Chief Guest, congratulated the scholarship recipients on their accomplishment. He appreciated the Embassy of Hungary for taking forward the collaboration which has benefited Pakistani students for years.
“We need such opportunities for our youth,” he said and underlined that such privileges not only bring pride but also immense responsibilities. He expressed hope that the selected students will realize their full potential, exploit the opportunity, and fulfill their responsibilities in the future.
Other noteworthy people at the ceremony included HEC’s Chairman Nadeem Mahbub, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Hungary in Islamabad Dr. Dora Gunsberger, Advisor Human Resource Development Division of HEC Engr. Muhammad Raza Chohan, and the faculty and parents of the scholarship recipients.
Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Program 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.
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After extending congratulations to the students and parents, Chairman HEC said “We are thankful to Hungary for gradually increasing the number of scholarships.”
He asserted that this scholarship program is an investment and will serve both countries, calling the award ceremony a moment of pride for the awardees, as they were selected from among 1400 applicants.
Deputy Head of Mission Dr. Dora Gunsberger expressed her pleasure on seeing happy faces. She shed light on the start of program in 2016 with just a few scholarships, followed by gradual increase in number over the years.
She advised the awardees to be prepared for good experiences as well as challenges. “This is a beginning of a new journey where you will face challenges as well, but it is all part of learning process,” she said.
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The ceremony also featured alumni of the scholarship program who shared their experiences, and interacted with the outgoing students.
The Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Program started with an initial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in December 2015, which facilitated 80 annual scholarships over three years.
The first batch of 64 students embarked on their academic journey to Hungary in September 2016. A revised MoU in 2017 elevated the annual scholarship count to 200, followed by a renewal in 2020, extending the partnership until December 2022.
The latest agreement underscores a substantial expansion, offering up to 400 scholarships annually across diverse educational levels for another three years, from 2023 to 2025.
Sohail Majeed
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
