Quadrilateral talks between “two good friends” in Poland

The best higher education institution for tourism in Poland is the College of Tourism and Ecology (WYŻSZA SZKOŁA TURYSTYKI I EKOLOGII), with which Dr. Ágnes Horváth, Rector of the University of Tokaj and research professor Sándor Némethy signed a multilateral memorandum of understanding for possible cooperation.

The Polish university is located in the Renaissance Suski Castle, called Little Wawel, with its historic interior, modern lecture halls and computer laboratories. The College of Tourism and Ecology is a Global Network University, a strong academic centre with an international reach, which has been successfully educating students from Poland and abroad for more than 20 years.

The Rector of the University of Tokaj came to Sucha Beskidzka not only for the opening ceremony of the academic year. At the meeting, representatives of the four participating institutions discussed areas of cooperation and signed a Memorandum of Understanding. On behalf of the College of Tourism and Ecology, the signatures were signed by Chancellor Maria Grezchynka, Rector Marek Labaj and Marek Nocon, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Management. The Lesser Poland (Małopolska) Voivodeship and the town of Sucha Beskidzka were represented by Mayor Stanisław Lichosyt and Józef Bałos, President of the Suski County Municipality, who signed the agreement. From Hungary, the Declaration was signed by Dr. Boglárka Bán-Gál, President of the County Assembly, Dr. Ágnes Horváth, Rector of our university and Dr. Sándor Némethy, Research Professor.

The slogan “Polish – Hungarian two good friends” is also appropriate in this case. Among other things, the objectives of the declaration include the development of tourism (cultural, wine, eco-, agro- and pilgrimage tourism), the implementation of regional development programmes in the field of the circular economy, and the development of joint vocational training in the tourism and public services sector. The protection of natural resources and cultural heritage was an important factor for all participants, as was the need to make the best possible use of twinning opportunities. It was essential for the two educational institutions to include in the declaration the implementation of joint training opportunities and internships.

The hosts took a break to show their Hungarian guests around the towns of Wadowice and Wieliczka, and on the last day of the visit, the representatives of the two universities held a detailed discussion on their plans for cooperation in the field of education and research. This discussion focused on the establishment of joint educational programmes, joint degree and faculty/student exchanges and joint research projects. In terms of exchange programmes, the opportunities offered by Erasmus+, CEPUS and NAWA (NARODOWA AGENCJA WYMIANY AKADEMICKIEJ) were considered in the fields of tourism, regional development, entrepreneurship and management, information technology, landscape ecology, cultural heritage studies, natural resource management, new pedagogical methods in higher education and national parks offering practical training opportunities.

The University of Tokaj and the College of Tourism and Ecology have not stopped there. They have agreed to start preparing a proposal for a joint Hungarian – Polish – Italian MSc in International Tourism.