Created: 2026.10.05. 08:30
On the International Day of Ayurveda, 23 September, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Széchenyi István University and the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India. The signing ceremony took place at the Embassy of India in Budapest. This strategic partnership aims to establish a new Academic Chair in Ayurveda, which will be integrated into the University’s Faculty of Health and Sports Sciences in Győr to advance educational, research, and scientific development initiatives in the field.
For years, Széchenyi István University has been deeply committed to enhancing its ties with India, a dedication further reinforced by its double-degree programme in International Economics and Business, its steadily growing community of Indian students, and the authentic culinary offerings of its Paneer restaurant – the only one of its kind in the region. Furthermore, the University celebrates the International Day of Yoga annually and has previously enriched its academic calendar with a guest lecture delivered by a monk and scholar specialising in Ayurveda.
The relationship between the University and Indian culture has reached another milestone. On the International Day of Ayurveda, 23 September, the University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, an institution under India’s Ministry of Ayush, to establish a joint Academic Chair in Ayurveda. The formal signing ceremony took place at the Embassy of India in Budapest. The document was executed by His Excellency Anshuman Gaur, Ambassador of India to Hungary and, representing Széchenyi István University, by Professor Dr Eszter Lukács, Vice-President for International and Strategic Relations, and Dr Angéla Somogyi, Dean of the Faculty of Health and Sports Sciences.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on the International Day of Ayurveda at the Embassy of the Republic of India in Budapest. Pictured are His Excellency Ambassador Anshuman Gaur, and, representing Széchenyi István University, Dr Angéla Somogyi, Dean of the Faculty of Health and Sports Sciences, and Professor Dr Eszter Lukács, Vice-President for International and Strategic Relations. (Photo: Máté Dudás)
“Széchenyi István University is a highly valued strategic partner of ours; our shared values in the fields of education and healthcare form the bedrock of this forward-looking cooperation. The innovative environment of Győr offers an ideal ecosystem to bridge these shared perspectives, integrating traditional Indian medical knowledge with modern European healthcare training,” stated the Ambassador. He emphasised that the memorandum to establish the Chair reflects the mutual trust fostered between the two parties and their shared commitment to deepening bilateral ties further.
“There is a steadily growing interest in Ayurveda, yoga, and traditional Indian knowledge in Hungary; therefore, it is a matter of great pleasure for us that, in cooperation with Széchenyi István University, a dedicated Chair can be established in this field. We are confident that this memorandum of understanding will inject fresh momentum into bilateral academic relations through specialised courses, joint research initiatives, as well as student and academic staff mobility programmes. Our objective is for this centre to further strengthen the partnership between Hungary and India, as well as between the Embassy and the University,” – stated the Ambassador.
Professor Dr Eszter Lukács noted that this memorandum represents an extraordinary milestone in the University’s relations with India, paving the way for the establishment of Hungary’s only academic centre supported by the Indian Ministry of Ayush, in Győr. “This creates opportunities for international cooperation among academic staff, researchers, and students, and contributes to raising awareness in our country of India’s medical system, which relies on a five-thousand-year-old tradition. It is also of great significance that the arrival of the Indian Ayurveda professor will open numerous doors for our University in expanding our research network,” she observed. She highlighted that the newly established partnership could not have been realised without the dedicated support of the Indian Embassy and the Amrita Sher-Gil Indian Cultural Centre, both of whom are committed proponents of advancing Hungarian–Indian relations.
Dr Angéla Somogyi added that Ayurveda, which encompasses nutritional science, lifestyle practices, and medicine, aligns perfectly with the vision of the Faculty of Health and Sports Sciences. “This holistic approach is intrinsically linked to the educational and research activities carried out at our faculty, where preventative care and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle are playing an increasingly prominent role,” she stated.
The Chair will operate as an educational, research, and professional centre for Ayurveda, aligned with both the University’s academic framework and Indian professional guidelines. The responsibilities of the incoming Chair will include, among others, the design of short- and medium-term courses, curriculum development, and the promotion of research and innovation related to this traditional medical system. Furthermore, the unit will be entitled to organise conferences, seminars, and workshops, thereby fostering international research collaborations and providing professional guidance to support the safe, evidence-based application of Ayurveda.
Members of the University community and local residents need not wait for the official establishment of the Chair to immerse themselves in Indian culture. Starting from September, Uni-Medicampus (Building Q, 13 Zrínyi utca, 9024 Győr), an entity operating under the University, has been hosting weekly yoga sessions every Wednesday based on the Yoga in Daily Life system. These sessions are open to all interested individuals and are free of charge for students and staff. Further information and registration details are available on the Uni-Medicampus Facebook Page.
