On September 19, 2025 the II Forum of Rectors of Kyrgyz-Hungarian Universities was held at Kyrgyz National University named after Jusup Balasagyn, with the participation of heads of higher education institutions from Kyrgyzstan and Hungary. The event was organized to deepen cooperation between universities in education and science and to realize new opportunities.
Welcoming remarks were addressed to the forum participants by Nurlan Omurov, Deputy Minister of Science, Higher Education, and Innovation of the Kyrgyz Republic; Zsolt Maris, Deputy Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Hungary to Kyrgyzstan; Dogdurbek Chontoev, Rector of Kyrgyz National University named after Jusup Balasagyn and President of the Association of Higher Education Institutions of the Kyrgyz Republic; and Béla Merkely, Rector of Semmelweis University and President of the Hungarian Rectors’ Conference.
Presentations on the higher education sectors of Kyrgyzstan and Hungary were made by Dogdurbek Chontoev, Rector of Kyrgyz National University named after Jusup Balasagyn and President of the Association of Higher Education Institutions of the Kyrgyz Republic, and Zoltán Dubecsi, Secretary General of the Hungarian Rectors’ Conference. They detailed the experiences, achievements, and opportunities for cooperation between the universities of their countries.
Following this, a signing ceremony was held for bilateral agreements/memoranda between the following universities in Kyrgyzstan and Hungary:
- Kyrgyz National University named after Jusup Balasagyn and Pannonian University;
- Ishak Razzakov Kyrgyz State Technical University and Öbuda University;
- Ishenaly Arabaev Kyrgyz State University and Pannonian University;
- Ishenaly Arabaev Kyrgyz State University and the University of Miskolc;
- Bishkek State University named after Kusein Karasayev and the Pannonian University;
- Batyrali Sydykov Kyrgyz-Uzbek International University and Semmelweis University;
- Batyrali Sydykov Kyrgyz-Uzbek International University and the University of Miskolc;
- Batyrali Sydykov Kyrgyz-Uzbek International University and the University of Szeged;
- Batyrali Sydykov Kyrgyz-Uzbek University and the Pannonian University.
Deputy Minister of Science, Higher Education, and Innovation of the Kyrgyz Republic Nurlan Omurov congratulated all universities on the signing of the agreements and expressed confidence that these documents will strengthen educational and scientific cooperation, as well as develop academic mobility and long-term partnerships.
Following the signing of the documents, the Forum’s first plenary session began, dedicated to university rankings and reputation, as well as internationalization. Presentations on how to develop a university’s reputation were made by:
- Mirlan Chynybaev, Rector of the Iskhak Razzakov Kyrgyz State Technical University;
- Béla Merkely, Rector of Semmelweis University and President of the Hungarian Rectors’ Conference.
Approaches to internationalization were discussed by:
- Rysbek Nurgaziyev, Rector of the K.I. Scriabin Kyrgyz National Agrarian University;
- Tamas Gergely Kucera, President of the Private Universities Section of the Rectors’ Conference and Rector of Budapest Metropolitan University;
- Askarbek Imanbaev, Rector of Kasym Tynystanov Issyk-Kul State University;
- David Biró, Senior Advisor to the Director General of the Center for Turkic Studies on International Affairs at the Ludovica University of Public Administration.
After a short break, the following speakers presented at the second plenary session of the Forum, dedicated to the topic “Universities as Drivers of Innovation and Sustainable Development: Entrepreneurship, Artificial Intelligence, and Green Technologies”:
- Kudaiberdi Kojobekov, Rector of Osh State University;
- Peter Szucz, Vice-Rector for General Affairs at the University of Miskolc;
- Myrzabek Kamchybek uulu, Vice-Rector for Research at KNU named after J. Balasagyn;
- Gulnara Kabaeva, Director of the Institute of Information Technology at I. Razzakov KSTU;
- Szilárd Szentgyörgyi, Rector’s Representative for International Affairs at Pannonian University.
At the conclusion of the II Kyrgyz-Hungarian University Rectors’ Forum, Nurlan Omurov, Deputy Minister of Science, Higher Education, and Innovation of the Kyrgyz Republic, expressed his sincere gratitude to all participants – universities from Kyrgyzstan and Hungary – for their active participation, insightful presentations, and ideas for joint development. He noted that key issues in education, research, innovation, and internationalization were discussed today, and agreements were signed that will serve as a solid foundation for future academic cooperation. “I wish everyone continued success, the implementation of new projects, productive meetings, and the exchange of experiences. I am confident that the joint efforts of our universities will strengthen our friendship, advance science and education, and benefit students, faculty, and society as a whole,” Omurov concluded.
Dogdurbek Chontoev, Rector of Kyrgyz National University named after Jusup Balasagyn, presented the Forum’s Resolution to the participants.
Interview with a participant of the II Forum of Rectors of Kyrgyz-Hungarian Universities, Rector of Semmelweis University, President of the Conference of Rectors of Hungary, Mr. Bela Merkely
Interview with Mirlan Dyldaev, Rector of Bishkek State University named after K. Karasaev