She drew attention to the fact that "as soon as the parties get closer to a solution, another condition is added."Continue reading
Although the Erasmus issue remains unresolved with the European Commission, the higher education applications for the state-funded Pannonia Scholarship Program have been evaluated, allowing universities and colleges to submit their own applications. HUF 10 billion (EUR 25 million) is available under the program, reports Világgazdaság.
Balázs Hankó, State Secretary for Innovation and Higher Education, told TV2’s Mokka program that every year, around 10,000 students participate in international programs, but this is not possible now because of the dispute with the European Commission. This is why the Pannonia Scholarship Program was created.
He said that the Tempus Public Foundation, that also manages Erasmus applications in Hungary, has evaluated the applications of universities for the Pannonia Scholarship Program, so universities can now invite their students, lecturers, and researchers to apply. He added that the battle with Brussels is ongoing.
HUF 10 billion is available for an exchange program for some 8,000 students and teachers, allowing them to go to universities not only in Europe but also in North America or Asia, for a few weeks or a semester,”
the Minister explained.
HUF 2 billion (EUR 5 million) of the program will be used to help Hungarian students, teachers, and researchers to visit the 250 best universities in the world. Participants will receive a monthly grant of HUF 350-500,000 (EUR 886-1265) and their studies will be fully recognized.
State secretary Hankó also noted that in connection with the Pannonia Scholarship Program, universities are currently working on concluding bilateral contracts, while at the same time they welcome applications from students, lecturers, and researchers to study and work at foreign universities from the autumn. According to Tempus, 21 higher education institutions, all of which are run by foundations, have submitted applications,
and based on the decision of the Board of Trustees, received HUF 7 billion (EUR 17.7 million) in mobility funding. More than 4,000 student mobility projects will be possible with the funds allocated under this decision.
Hankó reiterated that they are “fighting with Brussels” and the Hungarian opposition to avoid undermining the success of Hungarian students, but the European Commission “has no interest in the success of young Hungarians.” He said that negotiations were continuing in Brussels to give Hungarian students access to the Erasmus program again, but “the Commission is deliberately stalling.”
Via Világgazdaság, Featured image: Facebook/Erasmus+