On February 10, 2020, Innovation and Technology Ministry State Secretary Zsigmond Perényi, U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Marc Dillard and Fulbright Hungary Director Károly Jókay announced a significant boost to the Fulbright exchange program by the Government of Hungary. Fulbright Hungary strives to enhance Hungarian-American mutual understanding and bilateral relations through scholarly and student exchanges between the two countries. This flagship international educational exchange program was conceived by U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright in the wake of World War II to promote international good will. Hungary joined the program in 1978, and since more than one thousand Hungarians and Americans have participated in the Fulbright program.
In his remarks Mr. Perényi highlighted that the Innovation and Technology Ministry (ITM) “is proud to be exercising the founder’s rights of the Fulbright Foundation in Hungary and that it can reinforce the education and scientific relations between the United States and Hungary. This fruitful cooperation is … proof that Hungarian scientific life is capable of renewal and meets the challenges of the 21st century… ITM is delighted to announce that … the Hungarian government support for Fulbright will double this year compared to last year’s HUF 50 million, will increase by a further HUF 50 million each year and will reach HUF 200 million by 2022.”
DCM Dillard noted in his remarks that “The United States contributes $850,000 annually to Fulbright Hungary and this increase from the Hungarian side will bring Fulbright Hungary’s annual budget to $1.5 million by 2022. This is great news! It is great news for our partnership and for the future of the people-to-people relationship. I’d like to thank the Hungarian government for taking this step and making this commitment.”
Mr. Jókay said the effect of the raised GOH contribution will be felt immediately, increasing numbers of both Hungarian students studying and conducting research in the United States in the 2020-2021 academic year, and American students coming to Hungary to research and to support English teaching.
For more information about the Fulbright Program, please contact the Fulbright Commission at info@fulbright.hu
