Ten Years at the Centre of the World: Pécs Summer School Celebrates its Jubilee

A decade ago, the concept of a "Summer Trimester" was a bold plan; however, by now, the University of Pécs (PTE) has become a domestic market leader in the field of international summer schools. Launched in 2016, the Pécs Summer School programme, which operates within the International Directorate, is celebrating its tenth anniversary, during which time it has grown into a true global meeting point for students from six continents.

The initiative, established ten years ago by the predecessor of the International Directorate, had the fundamental goal of filling the summer months with international academic life and an increasing number of training programmes. The statistics of the past decade fully justify the success of this strategy: so far, more than 1,600 students from nearly 100 countries have come to Pécs to expand their knowledge at 65 different thematic summer schools, with the contribution of approximately 300 instructors.

This dynamic development is reflected not only in the number of participants but also in prestigious professional awards. In 2021, PTE won the Award for Excellence from the European Association for International Education for its online developments, and the Hungarian Marketing Association has awarded the implementation the Marketing Diamond Award on three occasions.

The key to this success lies in the exceptionally diverse range of courses and the active professional cooperation of the university faculties—including the Faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences, Music and Visual Arts, Cultural Sciences, Education and Regional Development, Engineering and Information Technology, and Law. This collaboration has allowed the portfolio to span from bespoke training tailored to partner institutions and Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programmes (BIP) to various online courses. Thanks to the work of the Study Abroad and Summer School Office, which coordinates the organisational tasks, the academic content is complemented by rich cultural programmes, such as intercultural evenings, Hungarian folk dance houses, and wine tastings, making the stay in Pécs a lifelong experience.

Regarding the jubilee, Dr István Tarrósy, Director of the International Directorate, highlighted the role of his colleagues and expressed his gratitude for the work of Dr Gyöngyi Pozsgai, Head of the Study Abroad and Summer School Office, as well as Boglárka Vecsánin, Bíborka Bartis, Noémi Zsitvai, and Blanka Szabó, whose efforts have borne fruit in this decade-long programme series in Pécs.

In honour of the round anniversary, a photo exhibition is on display at the Knowledge Centre from 15 to 30 April 2026, presenting the most memorable moments of the past decade and the jointly built "PTE experience" to the general public.

Article: Hanna Leemans
Photos: Szabolcs Csortos