Bridging Regions, Building Futures: Western Balkans Forum at the University of Pécs

On 8–9 October 2026, the University of Pécs hosted a landmark gathering: the Western Balkans Forum on Higher Education and Innovation. Bringing together international experts, government ministers and academic leaders, the two-day forum provided a vibrant platform for strategic dialogue, regional integration, and cultural exchange across the Pannonian and Balkan regions.

The event opened on Thursday morning in the grand Concert Hall of the Kodály Centre with a warm welcome from Prof. Adrián Fábián, Rector of the University of Pécs. The opening keynote address was delivered by Prof. Jo Ritzen, former Dutch Minister for Education and Science and driving force behind Empower European Universities, who set an inspiring tone for the conference with his address, "Bridging Regions, Building Futures: The Role of Higher Education in Regional Integration".

A series of high-level panel discussions and parallel workshops followed throughout the first day. Key policymakers and academic leaders—including Katalin Kurucz , deputy state secretary from Hungary, Prof. Jasna Duraković,and Hajrulla Çeku, ministers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and from Kosovo—debated the role of higher education in EU accession. International perspectives were further enriched by contributors from the International Visegrad Fund, Studyportals, and Study in Greece who discussed with Dr István Tarrósy, director of the International Centre of PTE. Delegates spent the afternoon in practical workshops addressing how regional universities can prepare for EU membership, design globally competitive curricula, access Horizon Europe research funding, and form meaningful corporate partnerships with industry giants such as Huawei, Končar Group, MVM Group, and Podravka Agri.

On the sidelines of the main programme, the General Assembly of the Hungarian Rectors’ Conference convened institutional leaders to discuss deepening cross-border cooperation, fostering joint academic frameworks, and expanding student and faculty mobility between the Western Balkans and Hungary.

Running alongside the main higher education discussions, a dedicated viticulture and oenology track titled "A Day of Indigenous Grape Varieties" unfolded. Chaired by Dr. Péter Teszlák, Research Director at the University of Pécs Research Institute for Viticulture and Oenology (RIVO), and organized by Zoltán Győrffy, the opening workshop at the University Library and Knowledge Centre gathered researchers and experts from ten higher education and research institutions across six countries.

Thursday evening concluded with a memorable Gala Dinner and Cultural Programme in the Reception Hall of the Kodály Centre. Guests were treated to an exquisite performance by the Harmónia Quartet—comprising musicians from the resident Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra—accompanied by opera singer Berislav Jerković. Their repertoire included Béla Bartók’s Romanian Folk Dances, James Scott’s Balkan Songs and Dances, and Jerry Bock’s If I Were a Rich Man. The cultural celebration was topped off by a surprise appearance from the world-renowned, 42-time competition-winning Béla Bartók Male Choir, conducted by Liszt Prize winner Prof. Dr. Tamás Lakner.

Friday’s schedule seamlessly blended strategic vision with hands-on field experience. The morning academic sessions featured a fireside chat on dismantling the academic "Ivory Pyramid" in Central and Eastern Europe, followed by sessions on quality assurance models, university-industry collaboration, and international student career services. A final panel on cross-border partnerships reinforced the overarching takeaway of the forum: regional collaboration is no longer merely optional, but vital for global competitiveness.

Simultaneously, the viticulture delegation visited RIVO’s Pázmány Péter Street site before heading to the University of Pécs Wine Estate atop Szentmiklós Hill for their second workshop session and a celebratory lunch. The entire forum reached its grand finale on Friday afternoon at Szentmiklós Hill with the "Pannonia meets Western Balkans" Public Wine Tasting. Here, academic delegates, researchers, and wine enthusiasts gathered to toast the shared viticultural heritage and bright future of the region, solidifying the University of Pécs’ position as an indispensable bridge between the European Union and the Western Balkans.