Students from nearly 40 countries at ELTE got to know each other's cultures at the third Cultural Connection Day event held on the Lágymányos campus.

The ELTE Student Union (EHÖK) and the university's International Student Advisory Committee (ISAC) organized the Cultural Connection Day for the third time. In the Gömb Aula of the Lágymányos campus, nearly 40 countries showcased their traditional clothing, customs, and gastronomy, while visitors participated in programs organized by almost 30 embassies, cultural institutions, student and university organizations.

Diplomatic representations (including Algeria, Brazil, Cuba, Indonesia, Morocco, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, India) and cultural institutions arrived with art and sports programs, dance performances, exhibitions, and other interactive experiences; ELTE was represented by, among others, the Erasmus and International Programs Department, the Institute of Language Mediation, and the InSINC Office.

The event reminds us year after year that ELTE is not just a scene of scientific excellence, but also a meeting point for cultures, ideas, and human connections that reach far beyond the traditional bounds of education—said Gábor Zemplén in his speech. According to ELTE's Vice-Rector for International Affairs, although dynastic rivalries and religious tensions affecting universities have eased over history, geopolitical conflicts fueled by territorial and power ambitions still put many international students in difficult situations. In such circumstances, it feels almost like a gift that at ELTE we can work and learn in a peaceful, inclusive environment that sees diversity as a value and supports learning and teaching.

The vice-rector highlighted that the university’s more than five thousand international students represent about 120 countries, countless languages, religions, and different cultural backgrounds; all this contributes to making Eötvös Loránd University an increasingly prominent player in the global higher education sphere.

Réka Boros, foreign affairs vice-president of the ELTE Student Union (EHÖK), and Rita Albittar, president of the International Student Advisory Committee (ISAC), emphasized in their welcome: our culture is present in music, traditions, flavors, art, language, and the personal stories we carry with us, and the event creates an excellent opportunity to learn from each other by showcasing these. At ELTE, students from many countries study and work together, forging friendships that often last far beyond university years; these experiences shape careers, communities, and sometimes even the future of nations, concluded the representatives of the student organizations in their speech.

On the sidelines of the event, both representatives also had the opportunity to hold an official meeting with the ambassadors in attendance, introducing the work of EHÖK and ISAC, sharing how students from their respective countries can play an active role in university life, and exploring further avenues of collaboration for future cultural initiatives.

This third edition of Cultural Connection Day also marked a significant milestone in the coordination and alignment between ISAC and EHÖK. The success of the event reflected the dedication of all involved, from the overall planning, to the marketing campaign conceptualization, to the mobilization of volunteers by members of both organizations. Together, they demonstrated that CCD creates tangible pathways for integration, collaboration, and networking, but above all, facilitates genuine mutual understanding among students.

The exhibitors’ house competition was won by the Omani Student Association and the Algerian stand. The ELTE Trefortissimo Choir, conducted by Gabriella Báródi, participated in the opening ceremony program, and the event was moderated by Laura Alzmeter, staff member of the InSINC International Student Integration Knowledge Centre.