Més que una colaboració: Training Partnership between UP and FC Barcelona

The Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Pécs (PTE ETK) signed a strategic agreement on 5 December with the Barcelona Innovation Hub, the innovation and training centre of FC Barcelona. Under the partnership, the Faculty becomes the Hub’s exclusive Hungarian partner, elevating domestic sports physiotherapy training and strengthening the international prestige of Hungarian higher education. UP FHS will now serve as the sole national centre for this global training portfolio.

The cooperation marks a milestone in the development of health sciences and sports training in Hungary. Students of the Faculty will now have access to practical and theoretical expertise previously available only to the world’s leading sports clubs. In addition to their Hungarian university degree, participating students may also earn international certificates from the Barcelona Innovation Hub, including the Professional Diploma in Injury Management for Team Sports and the Professional Diploma in Team Sports Injuries.

The programme is highly practice-oriented and offers direct engagement with FC Barcelona’s experts, researchers and training modules. This opportunity significantly enhances the labour-market value and global competitiveness of graduates from PTE ETK. Prior to the ceremonial signing, Francisco Javier Linde Cot, FC Barcelona’s Head Physiotherapist, delivered an exclusive lecture on innovations and methodologies in sports physiotherapy, offering insights into the operation of one of the world’s most advanced sports medicine centres.

“PTE's Faculty of Health Sciences has outstanding experts, extensive research experience and a strong practice-based training profile, particularly in rehabilitation, sports nutrition and sports physiotherapy,” said Dr Attila Miseta, Rector of PTE. “For our students, this cooperation provides access to the most up-to-date international knowledge and training. For our researchers, it opens the door to new international projects and the practical application of scientific results.” He added that the partnership demonstrates how closely sport and science are intertwined, as mapping and improving human performance, health and regeneration increasingly rely on cutting-edge research methods and technologies.

“What is happening here today is that the University of Pécs – ranked 750th among 30,000 universities worldwide, thus within the top 2.5% – is launching a partnership that will further elevate the university and its programmes in international cooperation and health sciences,” emphasised Dr Balázs Hankó, Minister of Culture and Innovation. He noted that the nine-month English-language training provides participating young people with unique skills and opportunities. “And we will not stop here – the next step will be dietetics, and perhaps more,” he added.

Luis Angel Redondo, Ambassador of Spain to Hungary, also attended the signing ceremony. “Today, the University of Pécs – in a city where the Spanish language is held in high esteem – signs an agreement with FC Barcelona’s training centre, one of Spain’s most respected institutions,” he said. The Ambassador underscored that both the Spanish Embassy and Spanish institutions will continue to support current and future initiatives between PTE and FC Barcelona. “We wish the utmost success for this partnership and for the students of the University of Pécs,” he concluded.

“This partnership brings together our strengths, expertise and vision for a future in which education is a driving force of progress and personal development,” highlighted Sergi González Moreno, Head of International Relations at the Barcelona Innovation Hub. “We are deeply grateful for the trust placed in us and remain committed to contributing to our joint work with dedication, responsiveness and responsibility. I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to the teams on both sides, whose professionalism and perseverance are the pillars of this agreement.”

According to Dr Pongrác Ács, Dean of PTE ETK, the moment represents “not only a milestone for the Faculty, but an important message for Hungarian higher education as a whole, especially within the fields of health and sports sciences.” He noted that the Faculty is already a leading institution in sports rehabilitation education internationally, and is now partnering with one of the key global actors in this field. The Dean emphasised that as prevention becomes increasingly central to competitive sports alongside rehabilitation, the collaboration will enable graduates to contribute to both areas.

As highlighted at the event, 

PTE ETK, as the exclusive Hungarian partner of the Barcelona Innovation Hub, will not only strengthen the Faculty and Hungary’s first university, but also enhance the international visibility and professional standing of the entire Hungarian higher-education sector. The partnership opens new horizons for sports science, health promotion and rehabilitation.

The press conference was attended by several prominent national and international figures, including world-class athletes, university leaders and professional partners.

Following the signing of the strategic agreement, the parties unveiled a commemorative plaque in the Faculty’s lobby. A national-coloured ribbon was cut by the invited high-ranking guests, symbolically opening a new chapter in the shared future of the two institutions.

Visca el Barça, Visca la PTE!