Budapest University Awarded by Japan's Foreign Ministry

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan has announced that the 2021 Foreign Minister's Award is conferred on Eötvös Loránd University on August 20, 2021.

As a statement from the Japanese Embassy in Budapest says, Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) is a prestigious university with a long history in Hungary. With its East Asia Institute, it was was the first university in Hungary in 1934 to teach Japanese, and in 1986, the Japanese Department was established. After the English Department, the Japanese Department is the second most popular. A number of students from the Japanese Department are currently pursuing their studies in Japan on Japanese government scholarships, but Eötvös Loránd University is also actively involved in exchange programs with Japanese partner universities.

Also, the resumption of Japanese teacher training in September 2020, which was temporarily abolished due to curriculum changes in EU higher education institutions, or the visit of Princess Kako to Eötvös Loránd University in 2019 are examples with which ELTE contributes to the promotion of mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries as an institution that promotes the study of Japanese language and Japanese studies.

The Foreign Minister's Award is given to individuals or groups who have made outstanding contributions to strengthening friendly relations between Japan and foreign countries. The 2021 Foreign Minister's Award has been awarded to 177 foreign individuals and 41 foreign groups.