Five Hungarian coordinators participate as partners in the networks of the winners of the CEEPUS Ministerial Awards for 2021 and 2022.
The networks named Biology, Biotechnology and Food Sciences, and VetNEST were awarded the CEEPUS Ministerial Award in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Among the members of these two networks are five Hungarian coordinators, who also received recognition.
The CEEPUS Ministerial Award is given annually to the network that demonstrates the highest performance in the program covering the Central and Eastern European region, based on the results of the academic year. However, due to the pandemic, the presentation of the 2021 Ministerial Award took an unconventional approach: no winner was announced after the 2019/2020 academic year, as the global pandemic significantly impacted the collaboration of all networks. As a result, two networks were honoured for the results of the 2020/2021 academic year: the Biology, Biotechnology and Food Sciences network received the 2021 award, while the VetNEST network received the 2022 award. It is noteworthy that in the history of the award, Hungarian-led networks have been recognized exceptionally frequently, with eight occasions. In the currently honoured Slovak and Croatian-led networks, there are five Hungarian coordinators who also contribute as partners and are thus recognized for their achievements.
VetNEST: Association of Central and Eastern European Veterinary Schools
Dr. Zoran Vrbanac, a European expert in veterinary sports medicine and rehabilitation and an associate professor at the University of Zagreb Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, currently serves as the lead coordinator of the VetNEST network, which consists of 12 international universities. This network now competes with Western European veterinary training institutions. Among the coordinators is Dr. Tibor Bartha, Head of the Department of Physiology and Biochemistry at the University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, professor, and Vice-Rector responsible for International Relations.
“The three major centres of this region are Vienna, Budapest, and Zagreb. Thanks to VetNEST and CEEPUS, the universities in the region have become the leading veterinary training institutions in Europe. Their activities are closely observed by other universities, and we have an impact on the development of veterinary medicine” said Dr. Tibor Bartha regarding the recognition.
The Vice-Rector added that the main goal of VetNEST is still the renewal of the veterinary education system. To achieve this, working groups have been established, and they have also won European Union grants. Another objective is to enhance research and educational cooperation, for which the CEEPUS program, facilitating student and educational mobility, is also of great assistance.