ISLAMABAD, AUG 12 /DNA/ – The Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan hosted a send-off ceremony for 209 Pakistani students who have won scholarships to study at top Hungarian universities under the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Programme.
The scholarship recipients constitute the 11th batch of Pakistani students under the programme. This year, around 26,000 students applied for the scholarships, reflecting the growing interest of Pakistani youth in international higher education opportunities. With the award of 209 scholarships for the academic year 2026, the total number of scholarship awardees has reached 1,636 since the programme launch in 2016.
Chairman HEC Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar was chief guest of the pre-departure ceremony, while Executive Director HEC Dr. Zia Ul Haq, Deputy Head of Mission in Pakistan Dr. Dora Gunsberger, Director General Human Resource Development (HRD)/Global Engagement (GE) Divisions HEC Ms. Aayesha Ikram, and Rector Air University Air Marshal (Retd) Dr. Abdul Moeed Khan graced the ceremony with their presence alongside heads and faculty of various other higher education institutions. The ceremony was also attended by parents of the scholarship recipients and alumni of the programme.
In his address, Chairman HEC Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar advised the scholarship recipients to respect and follow the laws of Hungary, make full use of the academic and cultural diversity around them, and return with knowledge and experiences that could contribute to Pakistan’s development. He highlighted the quality of Hungarian universities and the opportunities available to Pakistani students to acquire high-quality education and research experience in an international academic environment. He extended his gratitude to the Government of Hungary and the Embassy of Hungary for their persistent support to Pakistani students.
The Chairman HEC paid tribute to the parents of scholarship recipients while acknowledging their institutions for imparting quality education. He noted that Pakistani students and researchers were increasingly making their mark at leading universities and institutions around the world, demonstrating the potential of the country’s human resource despite the challenges faced by its education system. Celebrating the success of scholarship awardees, he mentioned that Pakistan has topped the list of Erasmus Mundus scholarship winners for fifth consecutive year. Such achievements are a clear manifestation of the talent and potential of Pakistani youth, he underlined.
Dr. Dora Gunsberger emphasised that the send-off ceremony was not only an occasion to celebrate the new scholarship winners but also an opportunity to reflect on the remarkable success of the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Programme over the past decade. She encouraged the scholars to set clear goals and remain committed to them throughout their academic journey. She underscored that the winning of scholarship was not merely an individual success, rather it was an achievement for the respective communities and the country. She urged the students to work hard, remain kind, and stay curious, while making the most of new experiences and opportunities in Hungary. The scholarship is a gift with a responsibility, she remarked.
Executive Director HEC Dr. Zia Ul Haq described the HEC’s Human Resource Development (HRD) Division as the “most beautiful part of HEC”, highlighting the transformative impact of scholarship opportunities on young Pakistanis. Highlighting the efforts put to make the HEC initiatives successful, he said HEC is committed to the development of the higher education sector in Pakistan. He also thanked the Government of Hungary for its continued cooperation in making the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Programme a success.
Earlier, in her welcome remarks, Director General (HRD/GE) Ms. Aayesha Ikram underlined that the ceremony marked the culmination of a highly competitive selection process. She said the programme provides Pakistani students with access to world-class educational opportunities and enables them to study in a diverse international academic environment. She encouraged the selected students to make the most of their time in Hungary, embrace diversity, nurture tolerance, and learn from their interactions with students from different nationalities. She advised the scholars to serve as ambassadors of Pakistan and play an important role in shaping international perceptions of Pakistan, while strengthening the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and Hungary.
Two alumni of the programme, Momina Aftab and Iffat Kalsum, also shared their experiences and encouraged the selected students to learn, explore and make the most of the opportunity while representing Pakistan as responsible citizens. They expressed gratitude to HEC and the Government of Hungary for providing Pakistani students with opportunities to study abroad and develop academically and professionally.
