At Budapest Metropolitan University, training takes place in two Faculties, the Faculty of Business, Communication and Tourism, and the Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries. In the framework of a long-term partnership agreement, METU students and teachers have access to the knowledge of the most innovative university in the USA, and in the first half of 2024 they became part of a network of nearly 30 universities. Their partner university, Arizona State University, is not only the most innovative university in the USA, but according to the Center for World University Rankings 2023-2024, it belongs to the top 1% of the world’s universities.
We talked to Dr. Naárné Dr. Zsuzsanna Tóth, the university’s vice chancellor for education.
METU recently achieved a four-star rating in the QS Stars rating system. What significance does this recognition have for the university?
Budapest Metropolitan University is also at the forefront of student-centeredness and innovative education. We recently received significant international recognition in the QS Stars rating, a so-called four-star rating. This award confirms our efforts to provide students with a high-quality educational experience, not only domestically, but also internationally. This also shows how important we consider innovation, quality and education centered on student-friendly practice. What is even more outstanding is that the maximum five stars were awarded to the university in terms of internationalization. Through the strategic partnership launched this year between METU and Arizona State University (ASU), the university offers its students an even broader perspective.
How does METU incorporate innovation into its educational model, and what role does the student experience play in this?
Innovation is a central element of our educational model. At METU, we constantly strive to ensure that students acquire not only theoretical knowledge, but also practical skills that enable them to solve real problems. This is the essence of our myBRAND method. Interdisciplinary approaches, creativity and technological development play an important role in the university’s educational strategy. In addition, our goal is to continuously provide cooperation and development opportunities for our instructors and students not only in Hungary, but worldwide, as our students come from more than 100 countries and our foreign partner universities are also excellent.
METU is an attractive university not only for Hungarian but also for foreign students. What does the excellent QS Stars rating mean?
Internationalization has always been an important aspect for us. We have more than 1,000 international students who come from all over the world and come from a variety of cultural backgrounds. METU has more than 200 international partners, including many outside Europe, and we are present on all continents. Our students can also study at home in an international environment, as 16% of them are foreign, from 100 different countries. Within the framework of the Erasmus mobility programs, all our students have the opportunity to gain experience abroad, even for a semester. But our students can also travel to places outside the EU as exchange students, such as the United States, Singapore, India, Egypt, Israel or Latin America.
Arizona State University (ASU) has been leading the ranking of innovative universities in the USA for 10 years. What does this partnership mean for METU?
ASU serves as an inspiring example for us, especially in the field of innovation, which is why we are honored to collaborate with them. Like ASU, we work to provide each student with a unique learning experience. This approach allows students to focus on their own personal development while receiving extensive support from us. For us, educational innovation does not only mean the introduction of new technologies, but also that our students can achieve their goals individually and as a community. Through the cooperation with ASU, students can receive educational content that is internationally competitive, thus greatly increasing the domestic and international recognition of METU’s degrees. In addition, they have the opportunity to participate in international competitions, various courses, trainings and other programs within the framework of the international network that includes ASU’s other university partners. And from the fall of 2025, the first joint double degree training opportunities with ASU will also start.
METU’s success is not only shown in honorable recognitions, but also in the continuous development and innovation it provides to its students and teaching community. The institution pays special attention to providing its students with up-to-date knowledge and skills that will enable them to be competitive in the global labor market. In the coming years, METU will continue to aim to ensure excellence in all areas, be it the development of teaching methods, the expansion of research activities or the strengthening of international relations. In this way, students not only receive the best educational experience, but they can also face the challenges of the future with confidence and confidently build their professional knowledge anywhere in the world.
Source: www.economx.hu
