On 14 February 2023, Mr Almazbek Akmataliev, Rector of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Named after Jusup Abdrakhmanov, visited Ludovika-UPS after the ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the two institutions. The signature took place a day before in Sándor Palace, the official residence of the President of Hungary. Interestingly, the Memorandum between Ludovika - UPS and the Academy Of Public Administration under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Named after Jusup Abdrakhmanov, was not the only document which was signed that day. Mr Sadyr Nurgojoyevich Japarov, president of Kyrgyzstan signed a declaration on strategic cooperation between the two countries, as well as several educational, environmental protection and justice agreements between various Kyrgyz and Hungarian institutions.
Rector Abdrakhamonov was hosted by Gergely Deli, rector and Boglárka Koller, vice-rector for international affairs. After a brief introduction and a photo shoot, Rector Deli presented our university to his honoured guest. Besides the faculties and degree programmes, he shared curiosities about the building of the former Royal Ludovika Military Academy. Rector Almazbek Akmataliev followed up by presenting our new partner institution, the Academy Of Public Administration under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Named after Jusup Abdrakhmanov. He talked about the long-standing history of the institution, student and staff life, and the faculties. The Kyrgyz university has three main areas of education: economy, public service and law. Approximately 2000 students learn there. Rector Akmataliev also highlighted the fact that the current mid- to long-term goals of the universities fall in line, as both institutions aspire to strengthen their efforts aimed at internationalization.
The memorandum drafts the pillars and all the areas, where the institutions are expecting strong cooperation, such as the implementation of academic mobility of students, staff, and faculty. The negotiating partners were looking for the possible fields of cooperation and discussing how standing points of collaboration expressed in the memorandum of understanding could be put into practice. The partners acknowledged that the key tool for student exchange could be the Stipendium Hungaricum Programme, by the aid of which approximately two hundred Kyrgyz students continue their studies in full degree programmes or attend doctoral schools in Hungary. Both parties agreed upon utilizing the program, as it would be the most beneficial for everyone. Koller Boglárka added the possibility of co-organising a summer school as the very first practical step of cooperation, but the Ludovika Fellowship and Ludovika Scholarship Programmes also can be the catalyst of the partnership.
The university leaders closed the meeting with the confirmation of their commitment to cooperation.
Text and photo: International Office