BESU – economics in a summerly way
The gathering is in full swing on the first day, with registration beginning at 8 a.m. Besides the Hungarian participants, this year’s international students came from Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, Austria, Croatia, Italy, Russia, Switzerland, Germany, Slovakia, Ukraine, China, South Africa, Iran, Colombia, Panama, and the USA. Viktoria Brantl from Austria shared her first impressions with us: "As soon as I arrived, I was immediately impressed by the beautiful building and the heart-warming welcome. Everything was organized very smoothly, and I especially liked the gift (bag, t-shirt, notebook, pen). I couldn't wait to learn about tourism business strategies!” Although she had prior knowledge on the subject, she still thinks that it will add value to her studies. “In addition, I would like to improve my English skills and get to know students from other countries." Viktoria explained.
The German Lisa-Marie Netsch said: "The university is in an absolutely central location, easily accessible by public transport. During the registration, everyone welcomed us very kindly, they even treated us with small snacks and drinks, which was particularly good in the heat. I have been to Budapest before, and I wanted to come back. That's when I found BESU, which I thought was a nice opportunity for meeting new people and expanding my knowledge in tourism."
After the registration BESU instructors held the first lectures in the rooms of building Q from 10:00 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. In case of completing the chosen course successfully, both Hungarian and international students can receive credits, which are recognized by their home institutions. Everyone of the participants had a particularly high opinion of the courses, and they enthusiastically shared their experiences with each other. So did Hanna Hernyes, who applied for Tourism, because this course was the most different from the subjects she was studying. "After the first few minutes, I knew that it was a quite good choice. The teacher (Gabriele Tragschitz-Köck) is very nice, has a lot of experience and great knowledge. She can keep our attention throughout the lectures with fascinating topics," said the ELTE GTK student.
The Belgian David Michiels expressed his opinion about the classes as follows: "It is interesting to learn the point of view of people from different countries and not just to joke about each other's accents. Schools and teaching methods and interactions are different. In Ghent, for example, we prefer to just listen during the classes, we don't really have the opportunity to express our personal views because of the large groups. I really like here at BESU that we can learn interactively in smaller classes."
Besides expanding professional knowledge, this year it was important to focus on extracurricular programs as well. At the end of the opening day a reception was organized for the guests, accompanied by cakes, sandwich plates, champagne and wine. It was a great opportunity for both the students and their teachers to get to know each other better, talk, and share their first experiences. On Tuesday afternoon the guest students had the opportunity to explore the famous parts of Budapest during an organized tour. The atmosphere and sights of the capital left lasting experiences and memories in many, for example in David: "I really like the eclectic architecture, and this is the first city in Europe where I was able to observe the remains of the Soviet era so well. There aren't as many tourists in Budapest as in London, Paris or Amsterdam, and I find that really peaceful.” David said during the walk.
On the evening of the third day, Péter Sziklai, head of the market risk department of Morgan Stanley's Budapest office, gave a presentation. He emphasized that it is more important to look into the future than analyzing the past when it comes to examining risk. He also looked at the effects of climate change on the business world and mentioned the biggest dangers and challenges that threaten the economy today. Thanks to the personal real-life examples, the audience could hear a very instructive and authentic presentation. On the last night of the summer university, a folk dance and karaoke evening awaited the enthusiastic students who wanted to make the most of the last moments, (they hardly wanted to return to their accommodation after that!). According to Dr. Gábor Forrai, the director of BESU, the Summer University of 2023 went very well: "Compared to last year, we were spared from COVID this time and we were able to organize leisure programs. And most importantly, the number of foreign students has almost doubled!"
Photos: Gergő Bernáth, Zoltán Csorba, Rebeka Román-Párducz
BESU 2023 gallery
BESU 2023 gallery
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