In the second semester of the 2024/2025 academic year, over 50 Erasmus+ scholarship students began their studies at Ludovika University of Public Service (LUPS), Faculty of Public Governance and International Studies (FPGIS) in Budapest, Hungary. During the traditional Orientation Day event held on February 5th, students received information about the history and traditions of LUPS, class schedules, the planned course of the semester, and English-language programs.
The attendees were welcomed by Réka Varga, Dean of the FPGIS, who drew attention to the opportunities offered by the campus, the faculty, and the courses, as well as the role of the students as ambassadors of their countries during their mobility. She expressed hope that by the end of their mobility, they would feel a little bit like Budapest residents.
At the event held in the Zrínyi Room of the Ludovika building, Péter Krisztián Zachar, the Faculty's International Vice Dean, introduced the history and structure of the faculty and suggested that the newly arrived students explore Hungary, enjoy their time there, make friends, and discover the hidden treasures of Budapest.
Lecturers Erzsébet Nagyné Rózsa, Endre Orbán, Miklós Szirbik, and Zsuzsa Kondor welcomed the foreign students and presented their departments, their activities, and the foreign language courses they offered for the semester.
Each lecturer encouraged foreign students to make bold choices from the curriculum: they warmly recommended legal subjects even for those not necessarily pursuing a legal career but with an open world view, interested in minority rights, international law, European public law, or comparative constitutional studies. The orientation also emphasized that there are many other subjects available from courses focusing on public service, political science, and international studies, all designed to help students better understand the world they live in.
The instructors presenting the departments and courses agreed that LUPS’s programs consistently emphasize European thinking and solid values.
In closing, Zsombor Artner, the Head of the International Department at LUPS FPGIS, and Szilvia Almási, the International Studies Officer at the Faculty’s Academic Office, welcomed and guided the international students.
Boglárka Együd from the Student Union’s International Committee informed students about the upcoming student events and major events of the semester.
This event, along with the high number of incoming Erasmus students, demonstrates that our University is committed to promoting the internationalization of education, focusing on developing international skills that can prepare students to face global challenges. We are interested in creating mobility opportunities that stimulate the academic and personal growth of both students and staff, while contributing to the development of an increasingly interconnected academic community.