Dr. Anikó Szalai Dean’s representative of international affairs represented our Faculty at the opening ceremony of the Gateway Program on the 27th of September 2024, where she said that the University of Szeged is exceptional when it comes to internationalization since every year more than two thousand students come to our University. She highlighted that there are many opportunities for classes for foreign students when it comes to the wide array of social sciences and the field of law that the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences can provide and besides that there are also many language courses that they can take. At the end of her speech Anikó Szalai praised the Chinese student’s diligence and their dedication to learning that she personally experienced.

Prof. Dr. Krisztina Karsai, head of the Gateway Programme also welcomed the students. She emphasized that the University of Szeged started the Gateway Program thirteen years ago. During those years the Shanghai International Studies University also joined the program which is where the Program’s twenty-two students arrived from this semester. In her speech Krisztina Karsai encouraged the students to get to know Europe, our country, our habits and every day lives besides studying. She highlighted that the Gateway Program is bilateral, Hungarian students also want to get to know them, their home, habits and language as well.

Dr. Wang Rui the Chinese director of Confucius Institute noted in her speech that this year is especially extraordinary since the Hungarian-Chinese diplomatic relation is seventy-five years old in 2024. She also pointed out that the world’s first Confucius Institute was established twenty years ago and the Confucius Institute at the University of Szeged has been existing for twelve years, and they pledge their support for the Gateway Program and their students for their most fruitful stay. At the end of her speech Wang Rui ensured the Chinese students that the Confucius Institute will always welcome them with open arms.