Szeged–China Academic Cooperation Advances to a New Level – 18 Chinese Universities Visit SZTE

The foundations of the University of Szeged–SNNU partnership were laid in September 2022 with the signing of a cooperation agreement. Since then, the two institutions have maintained continuous dialogue, culminating this fall in their most significant achievement to date: the launch of a joint Bachelor’s program in Computer Science Engineering. This innovative undergraduate four-year program allows students to earn degrees from both universities, with three years of study in China followed by a final year in Hungary. In China, such nationwide enrollment programs that confer dual international degrees are considered exceptional.

The cooperation has also garnered strong media interest, with coverage reaching wide audiences across East Asia and on international platforms. During their visit to the University of Szeged, the Chinese delegation was shown a short film produced by the Chinese Global Television Network, spotlighting the program’s significance.

Watch the video and discover more.

The partnership has also drawn interest from other universities: a total of 18 Chinese higher education institutions sent delegations to Hungary to learn more about the University of Szeged and its initiatives.

The Chinese universities that sent delegations to the University of Szeged include: Tianjin Chengjian University, Shanghai Institute of Technology, Shanghai Police College, China University of Mining and Technology, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing Agricultural University, Shandong University, Wuhan University of Technology, Central China Normal University, Hunan Railway Professional Technology College, Xiangnan University, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, China West Normal University, Sichuan University of Arts and Science, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xidian University, Shaanxi Normal University, and Shenzhen Polytechnic University.

The East Asian universities participating in the event are all highly prestigious institutions, renowned for their outstanding teaching and research excellence and distinguished positions in global university rankings. The 36-member delegation of senior university leaders was welcomed on behalf of the entire University of Szeged academic community by Prof. Dr. Péter Zakar, Vice-Rector for International and Public Relations and Hungarian Director of the SZTE Confucius Institute.

“More than ever, it is essential for nations, cultures, and people to think together and jointly seek solutions to global challenges – just as your universities and the University of Szeged are doing. We greatly admire the remarkable achievements of Chinese universities and research institutes, and we see numerous opportunities for collaboration. It is therefore a great honor to have already launched joint programs with some of you. Computer science is the first field in Hungary where we are awarding joint degrees, organizing summer schools in both China and Hungary, and exploring and developing ideas together in many ways. Being here together today is a true testament to all of this,” emphasized Prof. Dr. Péter Zakar during the meeting.

At the event, Fu Bo, Deputy Secretary General of the China Education Association for International Exchange, welcomed the attendees and highlighted best practices in Chinese international education.

“We are delighted to return to Szeged. We visited the city a few years ago, and since then the two sides have built an important forward-looking educational cooperation. We arrived with high expectations, as relations between our countries are currently at their peak. Last year’s diplomatic visit was historically significant, and collaboration between our nations has now evolved into a strategic partnership. Together, we have achieved substantial results across many fields – economy, culture, education, and investment. Education is a particularly vital link in our bilateral relations, and Hungary is our strategic educational partner. At present, between 2,000 to 2,600 Chinese students are studying at Hungarian universities, including the University of Szeged – where, as the video demonstrates, they feel very much at home. Beyond the current cooperation with SNNU, other universities are also seeking to establish similarly significant partnerships,” said the delegation leader.

Prof. Dr. Zoltán Kónya, Vice-Rector for Science and Innovation, introduced the University of Szeged to the delegation, focusing on the institution’s spirit of innovation and strong international presence. In his presentation, he highlighted the university’s unique infrastructure and extensive global network, both of which position the university to deepen collaboration with Chinese universities and students. Prof. Kónya also noted that nearly 300 Chinese students are currently enrolled at the University of Szeged – a number set to grow with the 120 new students who began the joint program with Shaanxi Normal University this year.

Dong Zhibao, Vice President of Shaanxi Normal University, outlined the establishment and operation of the joint Computer Science Engineering BSc program between the University of Szeged and SNNU. He highlighted that the cooperation is groundbreaking in several respects – marking the first collaboration outside China for both the university and the province. He added that they are pleased to share their experiences with other Chinese institutions planning similar partnerships. The formal part of the meeting concluded with a welcome address by Tao Qian, Chinese Director of the SZTE Confucius Institute, who provided an overview of the institute’s achievements and underscored its programs promoting language education and the dissemination of Chinese culture.

During the meeting, university leaders also discussed opportunities for further collaboration. In addition to the two vice-rectors, the event was attended by Prof. Dr. Ildikó Csóka, Director General for Strategy at the University of Szeged; Dr. Tamás Bene, Director for International and Public Relations; Cao Zheng Yin, Senior Business Development Advisor at SZTE; and Előd Tasnády, Rector’s Representative at the University of Szeged.

Following the discussions in the university’s Main Building, the delegation also visited the SZTE József Attila Study and Information Center before continuing their program in Budapest.

Original Hungarian article by Ferenc Lévai

Feature image: Members of the Chinese higher education delegation in front of the main building of the University of Szeged on September 22, 2025

Photos: István Sahin-Tóth and Ádám Kovács-Jerney