The diplomat was welcomed by Elek Bartha, Vice-Rector for Education, Róbert Keményfi, Dean of the BTK and Balázs Venkovits, Director of the Institute of English and American Studies, Faculty of Humanities.
Elek Bartha, Vice Rector for Education, presented the diverse range of courses offered by the University, and stressed the importance of international relations in both education and academic cooperation.
Ragnar Almqvist expressed his appreciation for the interest in Irish culture in Hungary and praised the work of the University of Debrecen in this field. During the discussions he also stressed the importance of student mobility and its promotion.
- Like in previous years, the relationship between the University, including the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, and the Embassy of Ireland remains strong, and will be further strengthened by the current visit and the work of the Institute of English and American Studies, the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, said Dean Róbert Keményfi.
The Centre for Irish Studies, which has been part of the international EFACIS Irish Studies Network since 2013, has been operating at the Institute since the 1990s.
- Irish studies play an important role in the portfolio of the Institute, where student interest is growing, and a number of our faculty members are also engaged in Irish studies research in the framework of international cooperation," said Balázs Venkovits, Director of the Institute.
The ambassador also had an insight into the Irish-related work of the institute of English and American Studies, and Marianna Gula, assistant lecturer in the Department of British Culture, presented the previous conferences, the library, the various lectures and exhibitions.
In his lecture to students, partly inspired by Hungary's forthcoming presidency of the European Union, Ragnar Almqvist reviewed Ireland's relationship with the European Union, likening it at several points to Hungary's relationship with the European Union, while also looking at the landmark changes in Irish society over the past twenty years through the prism of literature.
Following the lecture, the Ambassador's visit concluded with a joint music-literature evening in the Liszt Hall by the Institute of English and American Studies and the Faculty of Music, entitled Listen Now Again.
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