V4 Joint Special Course

V4 Joint Special Course as an ongoing brand for Central Europe

VF Visegrad Grant No. 22430169

Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Knowledge Sharing in Central Europe

Budapest Metropolitan University (METU), along with its partners (Metropolitan University Prague; Matej Bel University in Banska Bystrica; Maria Curie-Sklodowska University and American University Kyiv as new invited partner) is committed to strenghtening a long-term, productive relationship through this initiative.

The project further develops the 3 years-old ongoing joint V4 course of the participants by inviting American University in Kyiv students as “guests”. The ongoing initiative of our V4 universities fosters active and dynamic collaboration between the faculty and students via joint university course, workshops, offline meeting and a joint V4 e-textbook.

The joint course, which will emphasize the impact of global instability and its regional effects, will introduce new perspectives and reflections from member states. Conclusions regarding the recent EU Presidencies’ activities – rotating EU presidency of Hungary in the second half of 2024 and Poland in the first half of 2025 – and challenges following the 25th anniversary of V4 countries’ NATO accession could also provide valuable discussion points.

We believe we can bring the V4 region closer to young people beyond the traditional classroom and via online learning opportunities.

Objective, dedicated focus:

The project aims to foster a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in Central Europe by focusing on contemporary global and regional issues such as AI, cybersecurity, public diplomacy, and the impact of international events like the U.S. elections and the war in Ukraine. The initiative seeks to strengthen regional identity, promote collaboration among universities, and engage students and faculty in meaningful discussions on pressing topics.

Target Audience: The primary audience includes university students and faculty from the V4 countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia). The project also aims to reach a broader audience of young people through targeted social media campaigns and online learning opportunities.

Highlights:

Building on the success of previous collaborations this project introduces a joint course integrated into the curriculum of participating universities, offering a unified learning experience. Students will engage in online and in-person lectures, workshops , and discussions, culminating in a hybrid final conference..

This initiative reflects the commitment of Budapest Metropolitan University and its partners to advancing regional cooperation, promoting dialogue, and equipping the next generation with the knowledge and skills to address shared challenges.

Project duration: 01/03/2025 – 28/02/2026

Project partners:

1. Maria Curie-Sklodowska University (Faculty of Political Science and Journalism) - https://www.umcs.pl/en/faculty-of-political-science.htm
2. Matej Bel University in Banska Bystrica (Faculty of Political Science and International Relations) – www.fpvmv.umb.sk
3. Metropolitan University Prague (Department of Political Science and Anglophone Studies) – www.mup.cz

The project is co-financed by the Governments of Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia through Visegrad Grants from International Visegrad Fund. The mission of the fund is to advance ideas for sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe.

Contacts:

V4 Joint Special Course supervisor: Dr. Péter Rada (Vice Rector for International Affairs, METU)

Contact person: Dr. Péter Stepper and Dóra Gyarmati-Szijj (International Coordination Office, METU)

E-mail address: globaleducation@metropolitan.hu

Phone: +36/1/273-3090