ELTE and Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (KNU) Hold Strategic Consultation on Renewing Institutional Cooperation
The meeting was led by Prof. Gábor Áron Zemplén PhD., Vice-Rector for International Affairs at ELTE, and Prof. Róbert Kiss-Szemán PhD., Head of the Department of Ukrainian Studies, alongside Prof. Yuliia Hryshyna PhD., Member of the Ukrainian Parliament, and Prof. Kseniia Smyrnova PhD., Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs (International Cooperation) at KNU. Additional representatives from university leadership, international offices and student bodies of both institutions also participated in the discussions.
The meeting was held in the context of evolving geopolitical, educational and institutional challenges, highlighting the need for a more structured, operational and forward-looking framework for cooperation, particularly with non-EU partner institutions. Both sides emphasised the importance of academic solidarity and the creation of tangible opportunities for students and staff.
During the meeting, the participants reviewed the historical foundations and current state of cooperation between the two universities, identifying priority academic fields and realistic pathways for future collaboration. Particular emphasis was placed on faculty-level engagement, recognising that meaningful cooperation must be built through direct academic links within ELTE’s decentralised governance structure.
Existing strengths of cooperation were highlighted, notably in geography, mathematics and political geography, including an ongoing Erasmus Mundus programme that is expected to evolve into a double-degree master’s programme. The importance of Ukrainian Studies at ELTE and the potential development of Hungarian Studies at KNU were identified as strategic academic pillars of the partnership.
Student governance and bottom-up initiatives formed a key component of the discussions. Student representatives expressed strong interest in establishing structured cooperation between student unions, proposing joint analytical projects, policy-oriented research, shared publications, and reciprocal cultural and academic events, such as Ukrainian and Hungarian thematic days at the respective institutions.
Mobility frameworks, including International Credit Mobility (ICM), were discussed in detail. Short-term academic visits, summer university participation, hybrid formats and reduced participation fees were identified as feasible interim solutions to sustain mobility and academic exchange.
The consultation also addressed the status of the existing Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2004. While the agreement remains formally valid, both parties agreed on the need to renew and modernise it, ensuring that it reflects active cooperation and ongoing projects rather than serving a purely symbolic role.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to developing a long-term, structured and mutually beneficial partnership encompassing education, research, student engagement and cultural exchange. Agreed next steps include faculty-level consultations, follow-up meetings between student unions, conceptual preparation of a renewed MoU, and exploration of future in-person or hybrid meetings, subject to circumstances.