The Higher Education Commission of Pakistan has sent 259 students to pursue higher education in Hungarian universities under the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Programme. This fully funded initiative aims to provide opportunities for Pakistani students in various fields of study, reflecting growing educational collaboration between Pakistan and Hungary.
A farewell ceremony was held in Islamabad, attended by Federal Minister for Education Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, HEC Chairman Nadeem Mahbub, Hungarian embassy representatives, university faculty, and the students’ families. The selected students will study disciplines ranging from agricultural and veterinary sciences, arts and humanities, and biological sciences to engineering, health sciences, physical sciences, and social sciences at bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD levels.
Speaking at the event, Minister Dr. Siddiqui congratulated the scholars and highlighted the importance of such programmes for Pakistan’s young population. He emphasized that while such scholarships bring pride, they also carry significant responsibilities. He urged the students to make the most of this opportunity, realize their potential, and contribute to the country’s future upon their return.
HEC Chairman Nadeem Mahbub stressed the commission’s ongoing commitment to creating opportunities for Pakistani youth and thanked Hungary for gradually increasing the number of scholarships offered. He noted that students from across all regions of Pakistan, including Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan, interior Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, were among those selected from 1,400 applicants. Mahbub advised the departing students to act as ambassadors for Pakistan, making the best possible use of their time abroad to gain knowledge and experience.
Dr. Dora Gunsberger from the Hungarian embassy encouraged the students to prepare for both the exciting opportunities and the challenges ahead, describing the scholarship as a gift that also carries a duty to represent Pakistan honorably. She pointed out that the programme, which began with just a few scholarships in 2016, has grown significantly over the years.
HEC Human Resource Development Advisor Muhammad Raza Chohan provided background on the partnership, mentioning that over 1,200 Pakistani students have already benefited, with this new cohort bringing the total close to 1,500. He emphasized that the programme is not only about academic growth, but also about personal and professional development, and expressed confidence that returning scholars would contribute positively to Pakistan’s socio-economic progress. Tribute was also paid to alumni currently serving the country after completing their studies.
The Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Programme began with an agreement signed in 2015, initially providing 80 annual scholarships and sending the first batch of students to Hungary in 2016. Subsequent agreements have steadily expanded the number of scholarships available, with the latest arrangement offering up to 400 scholarships annually from 2023 onwards, underlining a strong and growing educational partnership between Pakistan and Hungary.
