Advancing higher education and research, together

The Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union took place from July to December 2024 and marked a period of impactful developments across diverse domains, including higher education, science, and research. In parallel, my institution, the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME), had elected a new rector and, with him, a new management team, which revitalised the strategic trust and stabilised its financial situation. Fortunately, this endeavour was successful, and with the closing of 2024, the BME senate formally accepted the Budapest University of Technology and Economics reorganisation strategy. It was a lovely symbol of this result that we hosted the last event of the Presidency, the bell ceremony, where our Polish friends took over the baton for January-June 2025.

A landmark achievement during the Hungarian Presidency was the adoption of the Council Recommendation on attractive and sustainable careers in higher education. This recommendation, part of the Higher Education Package introduced by the European Commission earlier in 2024, sets a framework to ensure higher education institutions remain competitive and appealing to educators and researchers. Concurrently, the Council endorsed conclusions on strategic partnerships in education and training, emphasising collaborative efforts to enhance the quality and scope of educational initiatives across member states.

Relevant progress was made for the CESAER community when the High-Level Group on Education and Training convened in Budapest, providing a platform for policymakers to explore aspects of the European degree initiative, which aims to harmonise degree standards across the EU while respecting national educational competencies. Discussions also delved into quality assurance mechanisms, emphasising the necessity for a unified approach to enhance the global standing of European higher education.

The Hungarian Presidency emphasised strengthening the European Research Area (ERA) and addressing its fragmentation. At the Informal Meeting of Higher Education and Research Ministers, delegates discussed the innovation gap and suggested solutions to enhance collaboration among member states. This session featured Nobel laureate Professor Ferenc Krausz, a BME alumnus, who underscored the importance of fostering an environment conducive to groundbreaking research.

Enhancing mobility and collaboration has been a central discussion theme among the Directors-General for Higher Education. Degree and credit mobility are crucial for promoting regional and national competitiveness. Based on this, BME introduced the mobility windows into all of the study programmes, making mobility more feasible to implement for the students. This aligns with the broader EU objective of fostering interconnectedness and inclusivity within the education sector. The Presidency’s efforts in this domain aim to simplify pathways for students and educators to collaborate and contribute across borders. Furthermore, the meeting of the Directors-General for Schools focused on strengthening public education systems to address sustainability and climate awareness better. Discussions highlighted the need to integrate these priorities into curricula and policies, ensuring the next generation is equipped to tackle global challenges. By aligning educational strategies with societal needs, the Presidency demonstrated a commitment to fostering resilience and innovation within the EU’s educational framework.

At BME, the period of the Hungarian Presidency was also a milestone from an organisational redesign perspective. The institution’s Senate approved a transformative initiative to transition to a so called ‘BME university model’ where the maintainer is private, asset ownership is retained by the state and government financing is provided by KPI based contract. This shift aims to provide BME with long-term stable funding, greater structural flexibility, and enhanced opportunities for students and faculties. The initiative also prioritises maintaining academic autonomy and preserving student representation in decision-making processes. This move reflects a broader ambition to align institutional frameworks with evolving academic and economic landscapes. Funding from Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe is a major factor for the university, which is the most successful Hungarian applicant in the previous and current funding period. Therefore we have developed an operational framework that will enable us to continue to be successful in the EU's Horizon and Erasmus programmes.

The Hungarian Presidency of the European Union delivered substantial progress in higher education, research, and innovation. Prioritising strategic partnerships, fostering mobility, and addressing digital and green transitions set the stage for a more cohesive and competitive European educational landscape. These initiatives, coupled with significant milestones like the transformation of BME, underscore the Presidency’s dedication to advancing the EU’s goals in education and research. As the EU continues to navigate complex challenges, the outcomes of the Hungarian Presidency provide a robust foundation for sustained growth and collaboration in higher education.

The Hungarian Presidency has helped set the stage for the ongoing Polish and upcoming Danish Presidencies, and we at BME look forward to continue working together within CESAER and all its Member universities to help constructively guide developments at the European level from the perspective of universities of science and technology.

Andras Nemeslaki, Vice-Rector for International Relations

Budapest University of Technology and Economics