Interview with the founders of the Hungarian Youth Association

Connecting Hungarian students all around the world

The Hungarian Youth Association is a student-led initiative with the goal of providing a platform for young people to share experiences and connect with peers of similar backgrounds. Their vision is to create a community where talented young Hungarians can feel at home while away from home. Achieving this involves organising gatherings and offering information and assistance to students at all stages of their educational and professional journeys. We spoke with HYA’s founders, Soma Benedek Pirityi and Bálint Karagich, who provided insight into the valuable work they do for Hungarian students who dare to dream big. 

Both of you have attended some of the most prestigious UK universities, including the University of Cambridge and King’s College London. Could you briefly describe your study abroad experiences?

One noticeable difference between UK and Hungarian student life is that while in Hungary, 80% of your time is spent on exam revision, in the UK, studying takes up around 60% of one’s life. In the meantime, the educational system allows you to explore your true interests and the professional path you wish to pursue. At first, it was challenging to manage all that time on our hands productively, but it gave us a good opportunity to conceive the idea of HYA. In addition, Hungarian universities strictly adhere to the curriculum, whereas in the UK, emphasis is placed on strategic thinking and acquiring specific skills. We believe these skills can contribute significantly to the domestic market and

Hungarian students can benefit local businesses by bringing a valuable, fresh perspective to the table when they return home after their studies. 

What inspired the creation of HYA?

It goes without saying that studying abroad isn’t always smooth sailing. Initially, it can be an intimidating and isolating experience for freshman students suddenly finding themselves in a foreign environment, without the support of their friends and family. Accommodation, course choices and financial matters can be challenging. Our firsthand experience led to the creation of HYA, aiming to ease the burden on students planning or undergoing this exciting chapter of their lives. While HYA started in the UK, it has expanded to 11 countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, and France. 

HYA believes that the knowledge Hungarian students gain abroad should benefit the Hungarian economy. However, many students choose to stay abroad after graduating. What could be the solution to this phenomenon? 

Looking at statistics, 60% of Hungarian students actually intend to return home after their studies, however, various factors hinder them. Lack of familiarity with job opportunities and application processes in the domestic market often plays a role. HYA’s goal is to bridge this information gap, providing graduates with insights into the Hungarian job market. With our help, fresh graduates will get a better understanding of which sectors they should target or which companies hire individuals with their qualifications.

Looking at statistics, 60% of Hungarian students actually intend to return home after their studies, however, various factors hinder them. Lack of familiarity with job opportunities and application processes in the domestic market often plays a role. HYA’s goal is to bridge this information gap, providing graduates with insights into the Hungarian job market. By helping them understand which sectors to target and which companies hire individuals with their qualifications,

We aim to demonstrate that there is indeed a high demand for professionals who earned their degrees abroad in the Hungarian job market. 

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How does HYA assist Hungarian students abroad?

HYA operates with a multi-level structure addressing students’ needs at various stages of their educational and professional journeys. We set up a mentor programme that aims to educate high school students about study abroad and scholarship opportunities and help them navigate through the application processes. We want to break down this widespread misconception that only a fortunate few can study abroad. We also support those who are already pursuing their studies abroad by bringing the Hungarian communities together, providing information and advice on various issues and subjects related to the study abroad experience as well as organising interactive educational and recreational programmes for students. Additionally, as we have mentioned earlier, we help graduates connect with hiring businesses, facilitating job or internship searches. We collaborate with a network of Hungary-based enterprises that are eager to hire Hungarian professionals with international know-how. 

Tell us about some of the ambitious goals you set for the future. What are you the most excited about this year? 

Preparations are already underway for our upcoming Outland Festival which will take place between 28-31 July, in Cser-tó Alsópetény

This unique event will feature a job fair, networking activities, concerts and presentations, while students who are interested in studying abroad can attend mentor and workshop programmes to learn about educational opportunities as well as tips and tricks to make living abroad easier. Visitors will have the chance to listen to the stories of fellow students or professionals who pursued their studies abroad. Whereas, one of our major long-term projects includes the setup of an application that would provide a platform for job seekers and Hungarian hiring companies to connect. It would benefit both parties since it would give a push to fresh graduates to take the leap of relocating home, while it would provide businesses with a valuable database of skilled professionals.

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