Participants in the tour included Endre Harsányi, Vice Rector for Sectoral Development responsible for agricultural and food sciences, László Zsombik, Director of the Nyíregyháza Research Institute, and Péter István Fejér, a staff member from the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management. The delegation was also accompanied by Béla Kocsy, Agricultural Attaché at the Hungarian Embassy in Washington, D.C.
The first stop of the delegation was in Brookings, South Dakota, where they held discussions with the management of South Dakota State University (SDSU), including Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dennis Hedge, Dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Services Joe Cassady, Vice President for Research and Economic Development Daniel T. Scholl and their colleagues. These discussions were chiefly about the development of a dual-degree program between the University of Debrecen and SDSU.
The parties reviewed the current operation of the program, the students’ credit system and further possibilities for financing and expanding the program. The delegation not only met with university leaders but also with agricultural students from Debrecen participating in the program (Csenge Lili Tarjányi, Angéla Gizella Kovács and Ádám József Hosszú), who are currently pursuing their studies at South Dakota State University.
During the course of their visit, the delegation members gained profound insight into the students’ daily lives and learned about the educational infrastructure of the program the latter are enrolled in. The Hungarian students were happy to report that they had been selected for a study trip together with a group of other SDSU students to attend the largest agricultural trade show and conference in the United States called Commodity Classic (scheduled to take place in San Antonio, Texas).
As part of the scheduled professional program in Brookings, the delegation held discussions with representatives of the organization South Dakota Trade, where they also met Hunter Roberts, who currently serves South Dakota as the Cabinet Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The agenda of these meetings included topics such as agricultural innovation, research and development, and further opportunities for educational cooperation.
Our university’s delegation also paid a visit to the biotechnology research center Dakota BioWorx, where they got familiar with projects related to the development and commercialization of agricultural innovations and, as the conclusion of this part of their program, they were given a reception by Barry H. Dunn, President of SDSU, at his residence.
The next stop of the professional tour was in Lincoln, where they held discussions with the deans of agriculture, veterinary medicine, and engineering of the University of Nebraska about the potential expansion of educational and research collaborations. Here, they were also joined by Ms. Sidonia Nicolae Morales, Hungary’s Honorary Consul to the State of Indiana.
At this stage, the representatives of the University of Debrecen were also received by Robert B. Evnen, Secretary of State of Nebraska, who awarded them with honorary citizenships of Nebraska.
Following this, the delegation held talks with Secretary of State Diego Morales in Indianapolis, Indiana.
As a result of this trip, the University of Debrecen has managed to strengthen its connections with several US institutions in the fields of agricultural innovation, veterinary medicine, biotechnology and engineering research. Consequently, all this may later contribute to expanding student and researcher mobility as well as to the preparation of additional joint research and training programs.
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