The House of European Affairs and Diplomacy (HEAD) organized a conference on expansion policies on September 29th at the St. Ladislaus Chapel of the Ludovika Main Building, in preparation for the Hungarian presidency in 2024.
Gertrud Ingestad, Director-General for Human Resources and Security at the European Commission, presented career opportunities within the Commission to the students of the Nations of Europe Career Program at the event organized by the Strategic Studies Institute of Ludovika University of Public Service in the Zrínyi Miklós Hall of the Ludovika Main Building.
Rector Gergely Deli emphasized the university's commitment to training more administrative professionals knowledgeable about and understanding of the European Union. This is particularly crucial as Hungary's upcoming EU presidency approaches, where Ludovika University of Public Service actively participates in the preparations: training for presidency diplomats is underway, international conferences on EU-related topics are regular, and significant research and educational efforts are dedicated to both preparation and talent development.
After a brief welcome by Gergely Prőhle, Director of the STI, Boglárka Bólya, Ministerial Commissioner responsible for tasks related to EU Presidency Preparation, opened the event. She expressed the joyous feedback on the work done within the career program, highlighting the specific career opportunities presented by the Commission's HR executives today at the university. She emphasized the importance of personal networking in Brussels, drawing from her sixteen years of EU experience. Bólya Boglárka then introduced the Nations of Europe Career Program and the mission of the training for the Hungarian presidency. She stated that in collaboration with the government, Ludovika University of Public Service currently prepares hundreds of officials for Hungary's EU presidency.
Balázs Tárnok, Head of the European Strategy Research Institute at the Eötvös József Research Center of Ludovika University of Public Service, reported that the University not only engages in educational but also active European Union research activities. One of its latest products is the study titled "Towards the Hungarian EU Presidency," examining the role of the presidency and major EU policies from a Hungarian perspective.
At the event, Gertrud Ingestad highlighted the unique geopolitical position of the Commission, aiming for member states to be adequately represented in the Commission's structure according to their weight.
During her visit, the Director-General also met with students, where representatives of the specialized departments of the Faculty of Political Sciences and International Studies presented their EU-related activities.
The event also featured a presentation by Christian Levasseur, Executive Director for Traineeships, Recruitment, and Mobility at the Commission, on "Jobs and Career Opportunities in the European Commission." He detailed the positions available within the Commission, explaining that multiple channels are open for aspiring young professionals and experts. Christian Levasseur also discussed the changes made in the European Personnel Selection Office's recruitment process, aiming to make it faster and simpler, and emphasized the Commission's goal of becoming an attractive workplace for young talents. He underscored the Commission's aim to become an organization that adequately represents nations alongside the focus on rejuvenation.
Following this, the two officials answered student questions, primarily related to work-life balance, mobility between work areas, and the challenges of recruitment.
For a detailed account of the meeting, please refer to the article on the university's scientific platform, ludovika.hu.
Text: Tibor Sarnyai, Zsuzsanna Fernbach-Czibók
Photo: Dénes Szilágyi