Summer University opened its doors for the third time in Nyíregyháza – during the two-week program, students from five continents immerse themselves in the world of Hungarian language and culture.
On the morning of July 7, 2025, this year's students of Summer University Nyíregyháza were welcomed in a festive ceremony in the ceremonial hall of Building A at the University of Nyíregyháza. The participants of the two-week international summer university, now in its third year, were welcomed in English by Dr. György Szabó, rector, who emphasized the importance of the program in building linguistic and cultural bridges.
"This is the third year we have been able to organize this program, which is of great importance to us and aims to provide students who are interested in the Hungarian language and culture with opportunities to learn, gain experience, and build community," said the rector. He added that learning Hungarian is a challenging task, but during the program, participants can get to know everyday life in Hungary through a complex experience.
These year’s Summer University scholarship students come from France, India, Indonesia, Estonia, and Russia, but there are also fee-paying students. What makes this group special is that there is also a student learning a related language, Udmurt. Among those attending the opening ceremony were Saffa Elallypta (Indonesia), Aureline Ágnes Yolanda Sipos (France), Ashish Sharma (India), Pudova Tatiana (Russia), Ari Suurnar (Estonia) and Minan Miranda (Angola), who listened with interest to the possibilities offered by the two-week program.
The courses entitled "Hungarian Language and Culture" are held at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels in small groups using modern, gamified teaching methods. The lessons are complemented by a rich cultural program in the afternoons: students can take part in excursions to Tokaj and Szatmár, food and wine tastings, and visits to open-air museums and animal parks, thus gaining first-hand experience of the values of Hungary and the region.
The courses and programs are led by experienced instructors from the University of Nyíregyháza – Dr. Erika Schmelczer, PhD, Erzsébet Végsheőné Cseh, and Dr. Kálmán Kiss, PhD, who is also responsible for professional coordination.
"This two-week gathering is more than just language teaching. It is an opportunity to understand each other, learn from each other, and build relationships between different cultures. The goal is not complete language proficiency, but to provide an experience that fosters openness, motivation, and community," said Dr. Kálmán Kiss.
At the end of the program, participants take an oral and written exam, and upon successful completion, they receive a micro-certificate issued by the University of Nyíregyháza.