This is already the second class of Chinese students who graduated from the University of Debrecen with a degree in Hungarian. Beijing International Studies University (BISU) launched its program in 2015, in which 20 secondary school students started a special course, taking which they could learn Hungarian as high school students in three years and later continue their studies at our university in Hungary.
“The graduating students deserve the greatest recognition, as they undertook the enormous task of completing a university education away from home and family, in a foreign language, in Hungarian,” said Péter Csatár in his welcoming speech.
The Deputy Dean for Strategy and Economic Affairs of the University of Debrecen emphasized that it is always a great pleasure to successfully pass a final exam, and he also noted the fact that so many of those who are now graduating would like to stay on and start a higher level of training, the completion of the Hungarian master's program.
“All this is a testimony of the fact that the training has fulfilled the hopes originally attached to it,” emphasized Péter Csatár.
Ms. Qu Xin, Director of Studies at BISU, attended the ceremony online and also gave a welcome speech. In the same fashion, the family members and friends of the graduates could also participate in the closing of the school year in virtual space.
“BISU’s foreign-language students play an important part in strengthening communication between China and the outside world and in strengthening ties between Chinese and other cultures. We live in an age where there are as many challenges as opportunities, and we have to take advantage of that," said Qu Xin in her speech.
The institutional units participating in the program included the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Debrecen, Debrecen Summer School and Beijing International Studies University, while their efforts were also supported by the Confucius Institute of the University of Debrecen.
“One of the major successes of Chinese-Hungarian exchange programs and cooperation is that now the second class of Chinese students are receiving their Hungarian diplomas from the University of Debrecen, thus helping to strengthen international relations,” highlighted Cui Xianjun, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute of the University of Debrecen.
Pál Csontos, Hungarian Director of the Confucius Institute expressed his hope that students would continue to work effectively after graduating from their studies in broadening Chinese-Hungarian cultural relations and promoting cooperation between Beijing and Debrecen.
Péter Szaffkó, Director of Debrecen Summer School, who has had a prominent role in launching the cooperation since the beginning of the program, congratulated the graduates and said that they were brave enough to venture into the unknown, to get to know a culture completely foreign to them, of which they could become ambassadors as of today.
Teachers and doctoral students of the Institute of Hungarian Literature and Cultural Studies and the Institute of Hungarian Linguistics both participated in the joint program.
“These 15 students have matured into responsible adults right in front of our eyes in the past 3 years, standing their ground despite the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In cooperation with the lecturers of the departments, they did their best to deserve and earn their diplomas at the end of their studies,” said the coordinator of the program, Edit Dobi, Associate Professor at the Department of Hungarian Linguistics at the Institute of Hungarian Linguistics of the University of Debrecen.
On behalf of the graduates, Yang Xi – also known as Tünde in Hungarian – expressed her gratitude and said goodbye to her fellow students and to the institution.
“Now, upon entering a new phase of life, we are faced with a choice, as there are those amongst us who will return to China, while others will continue their studies in another country. In addition, there are also those who will stay in Debrecen and start working towards their master's degree. Yet, whichever path we choose, the knowledge gained at the University of Debrecen will always be valuable.”
Following the ceremonial handover of the diplomas, Hungarian and international students who have achieved good results in the Chinese language proficiency course launched by the Confucius Institute were also recognized with certificates of honor.
Press Center - BZs
