Sunway University Hosts Inaugural Malaysian-Hungarian Rector’s Forum
Sunway University hosted the inaugural Malaysian-Hungarian Rector’s Forum, warmly welcoming a distinguished delegation of Hungarian rectors and representatives from the Hungarian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. The morning began with a briefing by Sunway University’s president, Prof. Sibrandes Poppema, who provided an overview of Sunway University’s history and its strategic plans for the future. He also introduced Sunway Group and outlined the long-term vision of its chairman, Tan Sri Sir Dr Jeffrey Cheah. Key topics included the university's research-focused initiatives and community outreach programmes. The session concluded with an engaging Q&A, where the Hungarian delegates expressed their interest in learning more about Sunway University.
The day continued with a tour of Sunway University’s campus, allowing the guests to explore new facilities, including the School of Engineering & Technology building. Following the tour, the Hungarian delegation met with Sunway University’s deans, deputy deans and heads to discuss possible collaborations for business, arts, computing, and engineering. The visitors were also treated to a vibrant lion dance performance, before heading to Athanor, the university’s in-house restaurant, for lunch.
After lunch, the university welcomed additional guests from various Malaysian institutions. The rector’s forum, attended by representatives from 26 Malaysian and 9 Hungarian institutions, marked the day’s highlight. Prof. Sibrandes Poppema and Dr. László Borhy, President of the Hungarian Rectors’ Conference, offered welcoming remarks. This was followed by keynote speeches from Prof. Madya Dr Azidah binti Abu Ziden (Director, Academic Excellence Division, Department of Higher Education) and Dr. Zoltán Dubéczi (Secretary General, Hungarian Rectors’ Conference), who addressed the state of higher education in both Malaysia and Hungary. Both speakers emphasised the strong ties between the two nations and expressed hopes for many future educational collaborations.\
The forum also featured a Special Interests Presentation, where Prof. Majid Movahedi of Széchenyi István University and Dr. Tamas Sterbenz of the Hungarian University of Sports Science shared insights into their institutions. Széchenyi István University, known for its rapid growth and focus on engineering and production, collaborates with prominent companies like Audi Hungaria Motor Ltd. Meanwhile, the Hungarian University of Sports Science highlighted Hungary’s impressive sporting achievements, having produced 151 Olympic gold medalists among over 3,000 graduates.
The event concluded with a thought-provoking open discussion, where attendees explored a wide range of potential avenues for future collaboration. This exchange of ideas not only underscored the shared commitment to advancing higher education but also set the stage for a strengthened partnership between Hungary and Malaysia. With a spirit of mutual respect and enthusiasm for the future, the event marked an exciting new chapter in international educational collaboration.
