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In October this year, the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences - MATE reached a historic milestone. During an official visit to Azerbaijan, Rector Dr. Csaba Gyuricza and International Director Dávid Békési announced that MATE will establish its first external campus outside of Europe in the Eurasian country.

​​​One of MATE's primary goals is to become the leading agriculture-focused higher education institution in the region and Europe. To achieve this, establishing external campuses beyond its domestic locations is essential. Currently, MATE educates students at five campuses across Hungary and numerous locations beyond Hungary’s borders. However, until now, the university’s educational network has only extended to its immediate surroundings. With its expanded presence in Azerbaijan, particularly focused on the promotion of Hungarian agricultural education, this is set to change.
The announcement was made during an official visit by Dr. Gyuricza and Dávid Békési to Azerbaijan, where they held discussions with senior officials from the scientific, educational, and agricultural sectors, as well as with three universities and a major corporate partner. The visit proved highly successful, resulting in three significant collaboration agreements between October 1st and 4th.
Among these, a historically significant agreement was signed with Agro Dairy LLC, paving the way for MATE Global to establish an external campus outside Europe. Following the example of MATE's campuses in Transcarpathia, this new facility will be the first outside of Europe where Hungarian instructors will conduct courses in English. Initially, the center will offer short-term training programs, expected to start as early as 2024, focusing mainly on agricultural vocational training. In the long term, the campus plans to introduce both master’s degree programs and adult vocational training, attracting primarily self-funded or corporate-sponsored students. MATE professors, along with Azerbaijani experts who have graduated through the Stipendium Hungaricum program, will take part in delivering the courses.

​​​​​​MATE’s key Azerbaijani higher education partner, Azerbaijan State Agricultural University (ADAU), has agreed to collaborate on joint research projects, student and faculty exchanges, and initiatives aimed at developing education. Rector Zafar Gurbanov welcomed the cooperation model, suggesting that ADAU could serve as a local partner for MATE Global Azerbaijan programs, offering its professional support. The recently renovated ADAU boasts excellent infrastructure, and both sides agreed on the importance of promoting agricultural education, committing to further cooperation in this area.

​​​​​​At the Azerbaijan Technological University (ATU) in Ganja, the Vice Rector for Education, Raqif Huseynov, and Rector's Chief Advisor, Mehman Kerimov, both alumni of MATE, made the visit especially meaningful. The leadership of MATE and ATU signed an agreement to begin developing a joint master's program in food science. Additionally, Azerbaijani representatives expressed interest in collaborating on technology transfer in viticulture and oenology.

​​​​​​The Hungarian delegation also met with Minister of Science and Education Emin Amrullayev, who fondly recalled his studies in Hungary. The Minister expressed his gratitude for MATE’s active role in the region and discussed the progress of current training programs, particularly the Stipendium Hungaricum and FAO programs. Minister Amrullayev welcomed the Hungarian initiative announced by Rector Dr. Gyuricza, which involves sending MATE lecturers and researchers to support the development of higher education in Azerbaijan, primarily through agriculture-focused programs in collaboration with universities and the corporate sector. Discussions also touched on MATE's potential involvement in the newly established Karabakh University.

A notable highlight of the visit was the Hungarian delegation's meeting with Azerbaijan's Minister of Agriculture, Majnun Mammadov, who expressed his support for MATE’s initiatives. He emphasized the importance of the university’s agricultural expertise for Azerbaijan. Mammadov also thanked MATE for swiftly advancing the tasks discussed during his visit to Gödöllő in July, and for moving towards concrete results within a short period through this reciprocal rector-level visit. He expressed his intent to adapt the Hungarian model implemented at ADA University since 2021, aiming to promote joint degree programs and foster the development of a university that champions entrepreneurship.

The MATE delegation also visited the rapidly developing ADA University in Baku, where they identified areas for cooperation with the university’s leadership, including mobility programs, summer schools, and faculty exchanges.

​​​​​​A special moment of the visit was an alumni meeting, where Rector Dr. Gyuricza had the opportunity to meet MATE’s Azerbaijani alumni. During the event, he shared future cooperation opportunities aimed at strengthening ties and presented MATE Alumni cards to the participants.
The official program concluded with a symposium organized by the Hungarian Embassy in Baku titled Sustainability and Innovation in Agriculture and Water Management in Light of COP29, held as part of the EU presidency. As an honorary guest, Dr. Gyuricza delivered an opening address, urging the audience to take on strategic roles and develop solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change. International Director Dávid Békési gave a presentation on the role and opportunities of agricultural higher education at both national and international levels. Several Hungarian companies were also present at the symposium, where they discussed current challenges and the latest advancements in agricultural research.

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