Hungary's concern for national regions, national communities and Hungarians living outside Hungary's borders is fundamental, clear and continuous.Continue reading
The awareness and feeling of belonging is one of the most important achievements of the past 13 years of Hungarian national policy, Péter Szilágyi, Deputy State Secretary for National Policy of the Prime Minister’s Office, stressed at the closing conference of the Márton Áron scholarship program for talented young people.
In his welcome speech, the politician said that the government attaches great importance to taking responsibility for Hungarians living beyond its borders. Speaking about the Márton Áron scholarship program for young people of Hungarian origin in the diaspora, Péter Szilágyi emphasized that
it brings together and encourages those who wish to put their resources at the service of creation, while seeing the scientific and artistic community of the Carpathian Basin around them.”
He added that young scholarship holders are a special community that can build the future of a united Hungarian nation.
Miklós Lengyel, Deputy State Secretary for Training, Scholarship Programs, and Science Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said that the scholarship program supports exceptionally talented students who are willing to invest time and energy into scientific research. He added that
the scholarship not only provides financial support for young people, but also helps to lay the foundations for their scientific careers.
The popularity of the program is demonstrated by the fact that this year’s number of applicants was almost double that of last year, he added.
Veronika Varga-Bajusz, Deputy State Secretary for Higher Education at the Ministry of Culture and Innovation, stressed that
the Hungarian national community can only remain strong abroad if it has a knowledge advantage. This requires competitive, high-quality higher education with Hungarian identity and a Hungarian economic powerhouse.
As long as there are young Hungarians hungry for knowledge, there will be a Hungarian future, she emphasized, adding that it was important for Hungarians to have “high-quality training and research capacities also locally available abroad.” She stressed that it is the responsibility of the government to ensure competitive higher education with a Hungarian identity for young people throughout the Carpathian region.
Featured photo via Facebook/Árpád János Potápi