At the largest student event of the University of Debrecen, this year a record number of more than 5,000 visitors tasted the specialties of more than 30 nations at the northern event area of the Nagyerdei Stadium. At the vibrant celebration of gastronomy and cultures, the musical talents and bands of the international student community of the university entertained the visitors on the festival stage.
- The University of Debrecen has the largest international student community not only in Hungary but also in Central Europe. This is why Food Day is so special. So many things in our world separate and divide our society. However, our university strives to connect and unite its community, and we work hard to achieve that goal. And one of the best ways to do this is to sit around a table, in this case, for culinary delights, for gastronomy," said József Tőzsér, Vice Rector for Sector Development of the University of Debrecen, responsible for Life Sciences, at the opening of the event.
The highly successful International Student Union (ISU), the organisation of the University of Debrecen's Student Self-Government, which brings together foreign students, is 20 years old this year.
- Twenty years ago, we ruined the newly renovated area of the University of Debrecen's Theoretical Block with the first Food Day, which was organised even then with the involvement of the students of the Faculty of Medicine in the spirit of peaceful coexistence. At that time we had only three English-speaking departments. Now, 7600 foreign students are studying at the University of Debrecen in more than 70 degree courses. The event has gradually outgrown its previous venues, including the square in front of the Main Building of UD and last year we had to find a bigger space for the event. I am very happy that the unique idea with the students of the time has become a tradition, which our students have been looking forward to since the beginning of the year," said Attila Jenei, the Food Day's initiator and Director of the DE Centre for International Education.
The interest in this year's Food Day was even higher than last year. This year, more than twenty-five thousand meals were prepared by the students.
- At this year's 20th annual Food Day, visitors were able to sample not only popular Asian cuisine, but also the lesser-known flavours of Africa, such as the gastronomic specialities of newcomers Liberia as well as Georgia. Food Day aims to showcase the cuisines of different nations and the noble competition between teams of previous years is no longer a feature of the event, which is now working in the spirit of international cooperation. We received many enquiries as soon as the event was announced in February. The importance of the Food Day is shown by the fact that the graduating students pass on their experience as a baton to the first-year students," explained Dávid Melis, Vice President for International Students of the Student Self-Government of the University of Debrecen.
The university bands and performers entertained the guests of the gastro festival until dawn.
Press Centre - ÉE
