The University of Debrecen was visited by the South Dakota State University’s vice president responsible for international affairs and the agricultural and environmental diplomat of the Hungarian Embassy in Washington. The American guests got to know the entire agricultural training and research structure of the university, apropos of the fact that a precision agricultural engineering bachelor’s degree course offering a double degree in cooperation between the two higher education institutions will start this September in Debrecen.
Jon Stauff, the vice-president responsible for international affairs of South Dakota’s oldest university, founded in 1862, and Béla Kocsy, the agricultural and environmental diplomat of the Hungarian Embassy in Washington, were welcomed by Endre Harsányi, the vice chancellor responsible for the development of agricultural and food science, and Okszána Kiszil, the director of coordination and strategy. on Friday.
During the discussion following the walk in the Main Building, the guests received a detailed overview of the history, organizational structure, infrastructure, international relations and research goals of the University of Debrecen.
Okszána Kiszil highlighted the four-helix innovation structure created around the institution, as well as the fact that Hungary’s largest international community studies at the University of Debrecen, more than 7,000 of the 30,000 students are foreigners, from 120 countries around the world. 29 students from the United States of America are currently studying here, most of them from the Faculty of General Medicine, the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, and the Faculty of Economics.
Recalling the antecedents of the BSc precision agricultural engineer, who will start at the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Science and Environmental Management this September, and who is unique in our country, Vice-Chancellor Endre Harsányi highlighted that close cooperation was started after the spring visit of the agricultural delegation from Debrecen to South Dakota, and the training will begin in the next few days. which gives a double degree.
The Faculty of Agriculture in Debrecen has been carrying out research in the field of precision agriculture since 2000, which, among other things, serves a more efficient agriculture in terms of energy, nutrient use and plant protection. In the framework of the new bachelor’s degree, students will also learn the basics of robotics, BigData, GIS, drones and infocommunications, among other things, and will have the opportunity to spend two semesters at the University of South Dakota in order to gain professional experience.
At the meeting, Dean László Stündl presented to the American guests the entire training system of MÉK, its international network and the main research areas, such as the scientific work and results achieved in the field of medical food.
In connection with this, Jon Stauff, the vice president responsible for international affairs, explained the training and research structure of South Dakota State University, emphasizing that he considers the launch of the double degree program and its bilateral operation extremely important. Diplomat of the Hungarian Embassy in Washington, Béla Kocsy, added: it is gratifying that the educational cooperation between the two institutions is supported by both the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture and the American partner ministry in full agreement.
After the meeting, the members of the delegation also visited the teaching farm of the University of Debrecen, viewed the technical and research infrastructure, and on Sunday they also took part in the festive opening of the academic year senate meeting in the Főnix Arena.
(unideb.hu)
