After signing a cooperation agreement between the Malaysian Sunway University (SU) and the University of Debrecen (UD) a year ago, a number of teaching and research projects have been launched between the SU Centre for English Language Studies (CELS) and the Institute of English and American Studies of the UD’s Faculty of Humanities (FH), facilitated by an Erasmus+ faculty exchange.
As part of the visit, Dr. Péter Csatár, Vice-Dean for Strategy and Economics of the UD FH, and Dr. Balázs Venkovits, Director of the Faculty's Institute of English‒American Studies, met with the CELS faculty and students, and they discussed further opportunities for scientific and educational cooperation with the representatives of the university. Furthermore, the UD, along with more than twenty other universities from the world, participated in Sunway’s International Global Partner Day.
‘The Sunway University is one of the most successful private universities in Malaysia and the region, and in many ways a valuable partner of the UD’s FH. During the discussions a number of possibilities were raised to expand existing links in both education and research, involving other faculties of our institution,’ said Dr. Péter Csatár.
The Vice-Dean emphasized that the opportunity to participate in the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship program is expected to increase the number of Malaysian students coming to Debrecen.
Tamás Kiss, a researcher at Sunway University, had graduated from the UD, and played a key role in the creation of the collaboration.
‘Both Institutes are aiming to become world-class research universities, and international research collaboration between the UD and SU can help to achieve this, in line with our policy that cutting-edge higher education should be based on empirical research results,’ said Tamás Kiss, who added that as an alumnus of the UD he is proud to be able to contribute to the success of both institutions.
Last year, an intercultural learning program was launched where students from Debrecen and Malaysia work together on video projects, learning about each other's cultures in an interactive way, while acquiring important skills.
‘Research on intercultural competence related to the project has already resulted in international conference presentations and journal articles. Based on the feedback from this year’s meeting we are confident that the program can continue in an expanded form in the next school year,’ highlighted the institute’s director, Dr. Balázs Venkovits.
‘Intercultural communication and interaction with students from other cultural contexts will provide them with valuable skills and experience, and in this area our ambitions are in line with the UD’s goals. Collaborations similar to the those we have with the UD have also helped Sunway University to become the best university in Malaysia in terms of student employment rate over the past two years,’ said Nicholas Lee, Head of the Centre for English Language Studies and Head of the English for Specific Academic Purposes Unit.
During the one-week trip to Malaysia, members of the UD FH’s delegation visited classes, held discussions about the ongoing intercultural project, introduced the University of Debrecen and the Stipendium Hungaricum program to the students and explored the possibilities of cooperation with other units of Sunway. In addition, thanks to the Global Partner Day, they had the opportunity to meet with other Malaysian universities and representatives from foreign institutions, mainly from the United States, the United Kingdom, China and Australia. This will further expand the faculty's international network.
Press Centre ‒ B.Zs.