From the Field: Spring 2025 Alumni Encounters

As it’s become something of a tradition, we’re once again looking back on our latest round of alumni visits — this time, across a whirlwind month of April. The University of Pécs international team was on the move, meeting prospective students and reconnecting with graduates who continue to carry the UP spirit far beyond Hungary.

April brought not just conversations and events, but real moments of insight — about where our alumni are today, how they’re shaping their communities, and how willing they are to support future generations of international students. Sometimes, our colleagues were working thousands of kilometers apart on the very same day — and yet the sense of shared purpose remained constant.

Here are just a few highlights from our April on the road.

Our April began in São Paulo, where we participated in the IACAC Americas Regional Conference as both exhibitors and presenters. Beyond the conference, we co-hosted an alumni gathering at the Hungarian House with the Consulate General. It was a lively evening that brought together PTE graduates and members of the local Hungarian community — a warm mix of professional insight and cultural connection. We even had the opportunity to introduce PTE wines, which sparked great conversations (and a few toasts to shared memories).

In Cairo, one of our alumni joined us at a major higher education fair — and offered a firsthand account of studying in Pécs to curious prospective students and their families. Her presence was invaluable, showing the authentic side of student life and making our booth feel that much more welcoming. Moments like this remind us how impactful alumni voices can be in shaping a student's decision to study abroad.

We rounded off this incredibly busy month in Nairobi, Kenya, where we participated in the Education Hungary fair on April 26, where we met many enthusiastic future students. With the Hungarian Embassy, we hosted an alumni reception. Ours and other Hungarian universities' alumni talked openly about their career journeys and future plans, with several expressing strong interest in returning to Pécs for further studies or collaborations. It was a powerful reminder of how lasting and formative the university experience can be.

At the very same time, another part of our team was traveling through West Africa, participating in QS-organized education fairs in Abuja, Lagos, and Accra. Alumni meetups were announced alongside the fairs, and through both formal and informal conversations, we deepened our understanding of local alumni needs.

April reminded us that alumni engagement isn’t about a single event or place — it’s about an ongoing commitment to listening, connecting, and learning. Whether we were sharing a glass of wine in São Paulo, solving a problem in Accra, or hearing a graduate speak in Cairo, the impact was real.

To every alumnus and alumna we met (and those we didn’t get to meet — yet): thank you for being part of this journey. We’re already looking forward to the next chapter.

We are happy to share some snapshots of these events.