The National Youth Council of Hungary (NIT) is an independent and open umbrella organisation established on the model of similar organisations in the European Union. Its role is to represent the interests of youth organisations and NGOs working with young people in Hungary. Its primary objectives are to help shape youth policy, mentor young people and foster community building. Established in 2012, the organisation currently has nearly one hundred member organisations and also represents Hungarian youth at the international level. The Hungarian Youth Conference (MIK) operates according to similar principles and has been working since 1999 to strengthen ties between young people in Hungary and Hungarian communities beyond the country\u2019s borders, build partnerships among Hungarian communities, and create opportunities for them to connect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two organisations recently held the 11th NITxMIK Summer University, hosted this year by Sz\u00e9chenyi Istv\u00e1n University. The three-day festival, which attracted several hundred young people, featured panel discussions, workshops and interactive professional programmes, providing participants with opportunities for dialogue, exchanging experiences and exploring ideas together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the opening ceremony held on the central campus of Sz\u00e9chenyi Istv\u00e1n University, Dr Eszter Luk\u00e1cs, Vice-President for International Affairs and Strategic Relations at the University, stressed the great importance of ensuring that politics is receptive to the perspectives of young people. \u201cThe forum focuses on key topics such as entrepreneurship development, the impact of social media, mental health, young people\u2019s participation in public life, and the role of women in society. Added to this is the drafting of the National Youth Strategy, in which the young people present here play a vital role. Through their involvement, a truly democratic strategy\u2014accepted by all\u2014can be created,\u201d<\/em> she explained. She added that the summer university provides an informal setting free from rigid constraints, with a strong emphasis on community building \u2013 an approach that also reflects the way Sz\u00e9chenyi Istv\u00e1n University operates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAt all times, we keep the interests of our students at the forefront, and we continuously renew our organisation with their needs in mind. We firmly believe that our students are the heart and soul of our University,\u201d<\/em> she emphasised. She added that, alongside high-quality education and research, the University places particular importance on cooperation with civil society organisations, political actors and society at large. Hosting the Summer University is therefore also a significant manifestation of the University\u2019s third-mission activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The opening ceremony of the Summer University was attended by Bence Pint\u00e9r, Mayor of Gy\u0151r; Judit Di\u00f3szegi, Member of Parliament; Vir\u00e1g S\u00f6vegj\u00e1rt\u00f3, President of the National Youth Council of Hungary (NIT); Dr Eszter Luk\u00e1cs, Vice-President for International Affairs and Strategic Relations at Sz\u00e9chenyi Istv\u00e1n University; and \u00c1d\u00e1m Turi, President of the Hungarian Youth Conference (MIK). (Photo: Andr\u00e1s Adorj\u00e1n)<\/p>\n\n\n\n In his welcoming remarks, Bence Pint\u00e9r, Mayor of Gy\u0151r, emphasised that youth councils are not merely administrative organisations, but effective forums that represent the independent voice of young people and enable their concerns and ideas to reach decision-makers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis can only be achieved by an open, grassroots community where pluralism is a core value, and where everyone finds a place regardless of their background or where they come from. It is important to engage consciously with public affairs from a young age, especially in the age of algorithms, disinformation and artificial intelligence, when textbook knowledge alone is no longer sufficient. Critical thinking, a broad general education and dialogue is needed\u2014one focused on constructive joint efforts and seeking consensus, rather than division,\u201d<\/em> he stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In his view, bringing about change requires action, but if there is openness to learning, the courage to take responsibility and a genuine commitment to meaningful dialogue, then everything needed for success is within our reach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Judit Di\u00f3szegi, Member of Parliament, the event\u2019s motto aptly sums up the essence of the free youth festival: countries may have borders, but conversations do not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c<\/em> The primary spice that gives straight talk its true flavor is preparation. Firm statements gain validity from broad knowledge, acquired expertise and critical thinking \u2013 this is what makes them credible,\u201d <\/em>she pointed out. \u201cIn representing young people, we bear responsibility for ourselves and for one another. The strength and security of a community never stem from constant agreement, but rather from its members looking out for one another, taking responsibility for their ideas and focusing on opportunities for development.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Several hundred young people from Hungary and Hungarian communities beyond the country\u2019s borders came to Gy\u0151r for the three-day event. (Photos: Andr\u00e1s Adorj\u00e1n)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n MIK President \u00c1d\u00e1m Turi noted that this year\u2019s highlights included a field trip to Dunajsk\u00e1 Streda, Slovakia, offering a broader national policy perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat you need to know about our organisation is that what NIT represents within Hungary, MIK represents for Hungarian communities beyond the country\u2019s borders. We currently have 56 member organisations across ten regions in eight countries. We meet twice a year, once in Hungary and once outside the country, and our General Assembly can only conclude once the final provisions have been unanimously adopted by all participants. Our role is to connect those who care about Hungarian young people, wherever they may live in the world,\u201d<\/em> he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vir\u00e1g S\u00f6vegj\u00e1rt\u00f3, President of the National Youth Council of Hungary (NIT), emphasised in her speech that they were particularly pleased that the event had found a home at Sz\u00e9chenyi Istv\u00e1n University, a venue that symbolises knowledge, innovation and confidence in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe greatest value of a summer university lies not only in its lectures, but also in the conversations that take place in the corridors, over a shared lunch or during an evening programme. These encounters can later develop into collaborations, friendships or even shared causes. This is one of the reasons why this event is particularly important to the Council. We believe that young people should not only be given the opportunity to participate in public life, but also genuine space to ask questions, debate, share their ideas with one another and shape the future,\u201d<\/em> she stressed. She added that the diversity of the programme is a value that strengthens dialogue, as we can only truly understand one another if we also listen to those who think differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the highlights of the event was the Youth Dialogue, which gave young people the opportunity to put their questions directly to politicians, creating genuine dialogue between the younger generation and decision-makers. Participants had the opportunity to ask questions of, among others, Gergely Kar\u00e1csony, Mayor of Budapest; D\u00f3ra D\u00far\u00f3, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly; P\u00e9ter Kajner, Deputy State Secretary for Climate Policy; Istv\u00e1n Moh\u00e1csy, President of Fidelitas; and Andr\u00e1s N\u00e9her, Member of Parliament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Summer University\u2019s Youth Dialogue programme proved extremely popular among young people, as participants had the opportunity to engage in discussions with political decision-makers at the national level. (Photos: Andr\u00e1s Adorj\u00e1n)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Created: 2026.08.13. 10:55 The National Youth Council of Hungary and the Hungarian Youth Conference held the NITxMIK Summer University for the eleventh time, with this year\u2019s event hosted by Sz\u00e9chenyi …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":10499,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10498","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/alumni.sze.hu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-15-1024x683.png\")
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