The Seychelles and Hungary have renewed their commitment to higher education for Seychellois students through a new agreement. Ten students from Seychelles will be granted scholarships annually to study in Hungary, as per the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the Seychelles’ Ministry of Education and the Hungarian government.
According to Seychelles News Agency, The MoU, part of the Stipendum Hungaricum Programme, was signed at the Ministry of Education’s headquarters by Minister Justin Valentin and Hungarian Ambassador Zsolt Meszaros on Thursday. This agreement, spanning from 2023 to 2026, will offer scholarships in diverse fields, continuing the educational cooperation between the two nations.
Merna Eulentin, Principal Secretary for Education, highlighted the MoU as a testament to the strong bilateral ties between Seychelles and Hungary, particularly in higher education. This partnership is expected to significantly contribute to the human resource development of Seychelles.
This renewal follows the initial agreement signed in October 2020, which concluded in 2023. Ambassador Meszaros expressed satisfaction in seeing Seychellois students further their education in Hungary and return to contribute to national development.
Currently, 25 Seychellois students are studying in Hungary, with 11 under the new agreement in areas like social work, commerce, international relations, and veterinary science. An additional 14 are studying medicine under a separate agreement.
Education Minister Valentin encouraged interested students to contact the ministry for guidance on application procedures and other queries related to studying in Hungary.
Hungary’s scholarship program, established in 2013, has benefited about 10,000 students from 70 countries. Known for its long tradition in higher education and established universities, Hungary continues to attract students worldwide.
In Seychelles, students are selected for government scholarships based on their Advanced Level results in the UK qualifications system. Upon completing their studies, they are expected to return to Seychelles and contribute to the nation’s progress through a mandated work period.