Leaders of higher education institutions in the Danube region gathered in Bucharest from June 25 to 27, 2025, at the DanubE+ Cooperation international conference to strengthen regional cooperation and lay the foundations for new joint Erasmus+ projects. Hungary was represented at this prestigious event by, among others, Prof. Dr. Anikó Kálmán, professor at the University of Nyíregyháza, who contributed to the shaping of regional plans with her professional participation.
Strengthening international relations, developing future-shaping cooperation and exploring the opportunities offered by the Erasmus+ programme were the focus of the DanubE+ Cooperation conference, which was hosted by Bucharest this summer. The three-day event brought together leaders in higher education from six countries connected by the Danube—Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Moldova, Serbia, and Ukraine—to share ideas. The 45-member delegation included rectors, vice rectors, and heads of international offices.
The aim of the meeting was to establish strategic partnerships between higher education institutions in the region. A key focus was on presenting existing and future international collaborations within the Erasmus+ program, as well as the initial results of the EDUREGION project. The latter is a professional initiative supported by the Danube Region Program, which aims to improve the quality and efficiency of higher education cooperation.
The conference focused on issues such as the region's internationalization strategies, common challenges and opportunities in higher education, experiences from successfully completed Erasmus+ projects, and proposals for new joint projects.
The event was jointly organized by the national offices of Bulgaria, Hungary, and Serbia, while the national Erasmus+ offices of Moldova and Ukraine contributed to the success of the event with professional support. Each participating country delegated 5-10 people to the conference, with six higher education and international experts representing Hungary.
The participation of the University of Nyíregyháza in the meeting is worth highlighting: Prof. Dr. Anikó Kálmán, professor at the Bessenyei György Teacher Training Center, actively participated in the professional discussions. As she said, "During the meeting, plans for a new Regios tender took shape, focusing on the further training of higher education teachers and strengthening the lifelong learning approach. I myself will also play a role in the professional development of this initiative."
Another important outcome of the conference was the creation of a joint network that will promote long-term scientific cooperation between universities in the region and increase the region's visibility in the international higher education arena. Such platforms not only strengthen knowledge sharing, but also create opportunities for countries along the Danube to respond jointly to global challenges, from improving the quality of higher education to promoting socio-economic integration.
The Hungarian delegation in the photo, from left to right: Dr. Linda Huszár (Tempus Public Foundation, Higher Education Cooperation Group, Internationalization Coordinator) - Gábor Kamocsa (Tempus Public Foundation, Head of Higher Education Cooperation Group) - Zsuzsanna Heltai (MATE International Student Affairs Center Office) - Prof. Dr. Anikó Kálmán (University of Nyíregyháza, Bessenyei György Teacher Training Center, university professor) - Eszter Knyihár (ELTE International Strategy Office, office manager) - Dr. Gergő Péter Rátkai (Bhaktivedanta College of Theology, Acting Rector)