Strengthening International Relations: Japanese Ambassador to Hungary Visits SZE

Created: 2025.04.16. 16:34

Her Excellency Hikariko Ono, the Japanese Ambassador to Hungary, paid an official visit to Széchenyi István University, where she became acquainted with the institution’s international activities, industrial relations, and educational-research portfolio. The meeting included discussions on enhancing bilateral relations between the two countries.

Széchenyi István University’s strategic goal is to continuously expand its international partnerships to support regional development. The institution places great importance on fostering increasingly close ties with Japan, with which it has already signed cooperation agreements with three universities. In addition, several Japanese students are currently studying in Győr. Cultural understanding has also been enriched by the participation of the Faculty of Design and Performance Arts’ Student String Orchestra, alongside the world-renowned Jávorkai brothers, in an Advent concert tour in Japan last December.

Another step forward in this process was the visit of Her Excellency Hikariko Ono to the University on 15 April. Dr Eszter Lukács, Vice President for International Affairs and Strategic Relations, presented the history, mission, and international strategy of the institution. She emphasised that Széchenyi István University maintains the closest industrial partnerships among Hungarian higher education institutions, with Audi Hungaria as its number one partner. She added that Győr’s geographical location—close to three capitals, Budapest, Vienna, and Bratislava—offers a significant advantage.

She also highlighted that with more than 50 English-taught programmes offered, the University provides a wide range of opportunities for international students. It is no coincidence that out of the nearly 15,000 students enrolled, around one thousand come from abroad, representing nearly 80 countries worldwide. Dr Lukács also noted that the University’s high quality is demonstrated by its inclusion in a total of eight subject-specific, sustainability, European, and global rankings published by Quacquarelli Symonds and Times Higher Education.

Representatives of Széchenyi István University with Japanese guests in the Senate Room (Photo: Máté Dudás)

During the visit, Her Excellency Hikariko Ono expressed her great honour at being able to visit the beautiful city of Győr and spoke highly of the University’s development. She voiced her support for the establishment of a Double Degree Programme between Széchenyi University and a Japanese university and encouraged the strengthening of cooperation with Japanese companies.

The ambassador also gave a highly successful lecture to students at the University’s Győr Innovation Park. In her presentation, she spoke about the focus areas of Japanese diplomacy, Japanese–Hungarian relations, and her personal career path.

H.E. Hikariko Ono highlighted in her lecture that around 180 Japanese companies currently operate in Hungary, providing employment for 30,000 people (Photo: Máté Dudás)

Many students attended the lecture of H. E. Hikariko Ono at the University’s Győr Innovation Park (Photo: Máté Dudás)