What has inspired you to organize this week-long event?

The Faculty of Law and Political Sciences has actively participated in various international events in recent years and has organized events where foreign experts gave lectures. The initiative for the International Week stemmed from the University’s commitment to internationalization. Our goal was to broaden the students’ knowledge, whether they study law, political sciences, or international relations. We wanted to enhance their professional language skills and openness to certain topics and the world itself. The 10^th anniversary of the establishment of the University of Szeged’s Francophone University Centre also served as a motive.

The students had the opportunity to attend outstanding lectures given the lineup of speakers, right?

Indeed, we were very pleased that internationally recognized experts, lecturers, and researchers accepted our invitation. This allowed our students to gain insights into how things work abroad compared to what they learn domestically at the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences – after all, we should also contribute to the ones who have not yet studied abroad or spent some time outside of Hungary. Some lecturers have longstanding relations with our Faculty, while others only recently formed collaborations and visited Szeged for the first time.

Which lecture or lecturer attracted the most interest?

The highest interest was in the two-part lecture held by Prof. Dr. José Pinto, a Portuguese professor, who held an almost three-hour class on the changing world order. Topics included the Russo-Ukrainian and Arab-Israeli conflicts, challenges to the United Nations, as well as on his own views on whether the United States hegemony would collapse. Goran Marković, the Dean of the Faculty of Law at the East Sarajevo University, also drew a significant audience, talking about the constitutional arrangement of Bosnia and Herzegovina following the breakup of Yugoslavia. Among the more specialized sessions, the lecture on Polish administrative law related to the challenges posed by the Russian-Ukrainian war was particularly popular.

As you mentioned, the 10^th anniversary of the establishment of the University of Szeged’s Francophone University Centre was another motive. What can you tell us about it?

The University of Szeged’s Francophone University Centre just celebrated its 10^th anniversary, providing significant assistance to the University in establishing and nurturing French connections and various collaborations. This milestone was highlighted during the International Week, with a conference on special legal order co-organized by the Francophone University Centre, the French Embassy in Hungary, and the International and Regional Studies Institute of the faculty. Another event was a two-day training organized by the Francophone University Centre, Babeș-Bolyai University, and a French association that focuses on the Holocaust. Both students specializing in international relations from Cluj-Napoca and Szeged participated.

What was the aim in compiling the program for the International Week?

The primary goal was to ensure that discussions and debates are based on professional foundations, while the series of lectures remains diverse, interesting, exciting, and relevant to the students’ current studies. Prof. Dr. Márta Görög, the Dean of the Faculty, considers it particularly important that, alongside existing and traditional events, we also create new ones to meet the needs of the 21^st century. A dedicated team within the Faculty collaborates on this effort.

Did the students who participated in the International Week receive any rewards?

Students who attended lectures, courses, or took part in the conferences during the International Week received certificates. Only those who attended two 90-minute lectures or more than two received the certificate as acknowledgment of their participation.

Written in Hungarian by: Tamara Pósa

Photos by: Ádám Kovács-Jerney