In complementing the efforts of His Excellency the President, Dr. Julius Maada Bio, like other countries and organizations, the Republic of Hungary has assisted the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education with thirty-two (32) scholarships to Sierra Leoneans to study in Hungary.
The scholarships are not only limited to undergraduate courses but also postgraduate programmes in different disciplines.
On 12th and 13th August 2024, Head of the Consulate Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Hungary resident in Ghana, Richard Majtan, met with the successful students at the Hungarian Consulate office at Spur Road, Freetown, where he spoke on various issues regarding their resident permits, fingerprints, and among other things.
Jihad N. Eter, the Honorary Consul of Hungary to Sierra Leone, said the scholarship was indeed to help fast-track the government’s flagship programme (Free Quality Education) for all.
He added that the move by the Hungarian government in awarding these scholarships is to improve the education status of Sierra Leonean students and is also part of their efforts towards complementing the government’s human capital development initiative.
The Honorary Consul of Hungary to Sierra Leone said the scholarship is prompted because the government is striving hard to educate its people, so they expect those who have the opportunity to make judicious use of it so they could come back and help progress, Sierra Leone.
He said the core mission of the programme is to increase the number of foreign students in Hungary and to encourage Hungarian higher education institutions to attract top foreign students.
The Honorary Consul said the Hungary Government Scholarship is based on effective bilateral educational cooperation agreements between the Ministry of Human Capacities of Hungary and the partner ministry responsible for higher education, adding that applications are considered eligible if the applicant is nominated by the responsible authorities of the sending partner.
He lauded the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education for their friendly relationship, especially their bilateral educational cooperation and foreign diplomacy between the two countries.
According to a plan with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Republic of Hungary for the next few years, the Republic of Hungary will be awarding more scholarships to deserving students every year to study in Hungary.