Hankó Balázs, Minister for Culture and Innovation, was the guest of the “Ask the Minister!” forum at the University of Sopron, where students discussed topics including expansion of dormitory spaces, international mobility, scholarships, and the university’s future developments. After answering students’ questions, the minister held a brief press conference with the president of the Student Government.
“Nincs még egy ilyen campus az országban, mint a Soproni Egyetem, jó érezni azt, hogy itt vagyunk a természetben,” began Hankó Balázs, highlighting the university’s unique campus setting.
During the forum, students raised key issues such as student housing, particularly in smaller cities. The minister confirmed plans to expand dormitory capacity, targeting at least 500 new beds nationwide. Other topics included scholarship system improvements and research opportunities, with programs like the Pannónia Program supporting students in gaining international experience.
The minister emphasized the importance of student feedback, noting that in the next six-year funding contract, student evaluations of teaching will be a key metric. Discussions also covered integrating artificial intelligence into education and modernizing doctoral programs, confirming that students can pursue a PhD even alongside undivided (long-cycle) programs.
Hankó Balázs underlined that a university degree leads to immediate employment opportunities in Hungary today and highlighted diplomantul.hu, a platform tracking graduates’ labor market outcomes and career paths.
The forum also stressed the unity of on-campus and online education, with the minister emphasizing that community remains central to the learning experience.
In the subsequent press conference, Hankó Balázs praised the University of Sopron, which ranks 99th in the UI Green Metric international sustainability ranking, highlighting the coexistence of tradition—such as forestry and teacher education—with innovation in fields like business and creative industries.
The visit concluded with a tour of the renovated “F” building, a three-story, all-wood structure that will serve as the Creative Industry Faculty base, providing a modern environment for art and design programs.
The minister encouraged students who could not attend to watch the recorded forum, noting that it addressed numerous questions affecting their daily lives.
Source: University of Sopron – “Kérdezd a minisztert!” student forum, 2026
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