The University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest (UVMB) is reinforcing its ties with Purdue University in Indiana, USA, through a newly signed cooperation agreement. The goal of the agreement is to foster active professional exchange and close scientific collaboration between the two institutions via student, researcher, and faculty exchange programs.
The ceremonial signing was attended by Prof. Dr. Péter Sótonyi, Rector of UVMB; Addison Sheldon, Director of International Relations at Purdue University; István Jakab, Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly; Szabolcs Takács, Hungarian Ambassador to the United States; Diego Morales, Secretary of State of Indiana; Sidonia Nicolae, Honorary Consul of Hungary in Indiana; Aurelia Skipwith Giacometto, Head of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality; Gellért Gólya, Agricultural Specialist at the U.S. Embassy in Budapest, USDA FAS Mid-Europe; Béla Kocsy, First Counselor at the Embassy of Hungary to the United States; and Dr. Miklós Süth, Strategic Vice-Rector of UVMB.
“Our joint programs with Purdue not only further embed us into the international scientific community but also create new opportunities for our students and faculty,” emphasised Prof. Dr. Péter Sótonyi, Rector of UVMB. “This is a collaboration built on shared values and long-term vision.”
In addition to enhancing the university’s global presence, this partnership expands the scope of American-Hungarian scientific cooperation. It also marks another step in UVMB’s strategic ambition to complement its EAEVE (European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education) accreditation with AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) recognition. Achieving this would allow the university to officially meet the expectations of the U.S. veterinary education system, something few European institutions can claim.
As part of the collaboration, six Purdue students are currently visiting Hungary for a two-week program. During their stay, they will explore the main campus on István Street, the Dóra Major Training Farm in Üllő, and the university’s external department at the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden.
