University of Debrecen and India seek to expand academic and cultural ties

The University of Debrecen and India are looking to further strengthen their existing partnership. During a visit to the university, Anshuman Gaur, Ambassador of the Republic of India to Hungary, discussed opportunities to expand educational, research and cultural projects with Attila Jenei, Vice-Rector for International Affairs. The ambassador also donated a collection of books to the University and National Library of the University of Debrecen (DEENK) and inaugurated a temporary thematic exhibition titled India Corner.

“The relationship between the University of Debrecen and India is multifaceted and has developed particularly dynamically over the past decade. We would like to broaden these ties further. We aim to establish high-quality partnerships based on direct connections with the university’s faculties and institutes. Based on our positive experiences so far, we look forward to continuing our cooperation with confidence,” said Attila Jenei during the meeting.

The Vice-Rector noted that the university’s International Education Coordination Centre operates a South Asia Regional Office to recruit students from India and neighbouring countries. Thanks to the institution’s recruitment and marketing activities, the number of Indian students has increased significantly in recent years. While the university had 20 students from India in 2014, their number has now exceeded 400.

Anshuman Gaur said that further expanding the already close relationship between India and the university was important.

“The scale of the transformation taking place in my country is not widely understood in Europe. I therefore encourage your university to make the most of this partnership to gain a deeper understanding of the changes underway in India. These developments affect 1.5 billion people, one-sixth of humanity. India is one of the world’s largest economies, and in September, Fitch Ratings raised its GDP growth forecast for the 2027 financial year from 6.4 to 6.9 per cent. The scale of India’s transformation is enormous. We are therefore happy to support any research, educational or cultural project that helps people gain a genuine understanding of modern India,” the ambassador said.

A significant proportion of Indian students at the University of Debrecen enrol in English-language, fee-paying programmes, while others arrive through the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship programme. Engineering, information technology, medicine and health sciences are among the most popular fields of study for them. The University of Debrecen hosts more Indian students than any other higher education institution in Hungary.

The university currently maintains active relationships with seven Indian higher education institutions. It has also signed research and educational agreements in engineering and natural sciences. In addition, Indian students come to the university’s Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management for intensive, practice-oriented professional training in agriculture. The University of Debrecen also has an Indian partner through the Erasmus+ programme.

These partnerships were outlined by Orsolya Jánosy, head of the university’s Centre for International Relations.

During the ambassador’s visit, he donated a substantial collection of books to the University and National Library of the University of Debrecen, further enriching its extensive collection of Indian literature and other publications. On Tuesday, he officially opened the India Corner exhibition at DEENK, which will be open to visitors throughout October.

“We want Hungarian students to discover a modern, dynamic India undergoing rapid transformation. Through these books, they can travel to the bustling streets of Mumbai, the tranquil backwaters of Kerala, the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas or the cutting-edge technology hubs of Bengaluru. They can read about India’s foreign policy, economic reforms, rich cinematic traditions and timeless literary classics. The volumes donated to the library cover a wide range of subjects, including Indian literature, history, philosophy, art, economics and contemporary politics,” the ambassador said.

At the exhibition’s opening, Ildikó Bácskay, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, highlighted the faculty’s significant developments drawing on India’s Ayurvedic traditions. This was among the reasons the faculty strongly supported the book donation event. In her speech, she also discussed the continuing importance of traditional Indian medicine.

“With its holistic approach, Ayurveda places the human being at the centre of healing. It views health in the broader context of the relationship between the body, the mind and the surrounding world. Although modern medicine is based on scientific evidence, we believe that understanding traditional medical systems can offer valuable perspectives. India’s rich history of using medicinal plants and natural substances has also contributed to our knowledge of medicines and their development. We believe that medicine and culture cannot be separated. This is why cultural exchange is so important in a university environment,” the dean said at the library event.

During his visit, Anshuman Gaur also met with Indian students studying at the University of Debrecen.

(unideb.hu)