Budapest Metropolitan University (METU) has entered into a landmark partnership agreement with Arizona State University (ASU), becoming the first and only Hungarian university to sign a long-term partnership agreement with them. ASU is ranked among the top 1% of universities in the world according to the Center for World University Rankings 2023-2024 (https://cwur.org/2023.php). This partnership will provide new opportunities for Hungarian and international students studying here that could also be the next stepping stone for the internationalization of higher education in Hungary.

Under the agreement, METU is now authorized to use the phrase "powered by Arizona State University" in its logo.

Starting this year, the ASU partnership will offer METU students innovative opportunities to:

• Pursue successful careers in high-demand fields
• Gain international experience
• Develop global networks
• Participate in employer-sponsored programs
• Earn certificates and take masterclasses

In the future, METU students will also have access to a variety of English language courses and pre-study materials developed by ASU. For example, students will have the opportunity to take the 10-hour course "What Is Innovation?" offered by ASU's School for the Future of Innovation in Society, which explores the fundamentals of innovation. They will also have the opportunity to earn degrees from Arizona State University in the future through pathways that will be developed between the two institutions.

"Arizona State University fundamentally believes that university education should be both academically excellent and accessible to all qualified students," said Nancy Gonzales, Executive Vice President and Provost of Arizona State University. "This core principle inspires our work to partner with institutions like Budapest Metropolitan University through the ASU-Cintana Alliance. METU shares our commitment to educating a globally diverse student body and excels in areas of study that prepare students for in-demand careers. Through this partnership, METU students will gain access to the academic experiences and courses that have helped make ASU a top global university for graduate employability according to the recent Global Employability University Ranking & Survey."

There is a growing demand in Hungarian higher education, both domestically and internationally, for the latest digital knowledge, particularly in the use of artificial intelligence, as well as for other business, IT and healthcare training programs. METU, in line with its long-term plans, intends to develop these programs in cooperation with ASU.

"This is a great moment for us," said Richard Wenczel, President and CEO of Budapest Metropolitan University. "Our partnership with Arizona State University will allow our faculty and students to combine our local knowledge with the global knowledge of one of the top 1% universities in the world to create world-class educational materials. This knowledge will be available to our undergraduate and graduate students from September, offering them excellent opportunities for career development at home and abroad, while acquiring up-to-date knowledge using the methods of the most innovative university in the United States. The myBRAND methodology of Budapest Metropolitan University, combined with the higher education offered by ASU, will be of great value to the careers of our students and to employers in Hungary and internationally."

ASU has been named the most innovative university in the United States for the past nine consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report (2016-2024). (https://www.asu.edu/) Arizona State University currently has 160,000 students on its campuses and online. It is home to five Nobel laureates and ten Pulitzer Prize winners.

"Our comprehensive partnership with METU is particularly important to Arizona State University as we strive to expand our impact across Central Europe," said Julia Rosen, Vice President for Global Academic Initiatives at Arizona State University. "The Hungarian market is well-positioned to meet the demand for higher education, embracing interdisciplinary education and the latest technological advancements to further internationalize its culture and workforce. We look forward to working with our new METU partners to provide high-quality education to the thousands of students and professionals who are building Hungary's future."**

This partnership is a major coup for METU and will undoubtedly benefit its students for years to come. It is a testament to the university's commitment to providing a world-class education and its growing reputation on the international stage.

2024. 05. 02.