Where is Hungary ranked among the world’s smartest countries?!
Do you know which country’s inhabitants are the most intelligent in the world? Now it has been revealed by Vouchercloud in a freshly published ranking, where three decisive factors were taken into consideration. Hungary is at the forefront, but who takes the palm on the list of the smartest countries in the world?
Vouchercloud has ranked the smartest nations in the world. The site collected data from several sources and then aggregated them to make its final ranking.
The ranking takes into account three factors: Number of Nobel laureates; Average IQ level; Proportion of students in higher education.
Nobel laureates
At the top of the list, the United States is the absolute winner, with 368 Nobel laureates, followed by the United Kingdom (132) and Germany (107), both of which have more than a hundred awards. Besides European countries at the forefront, Japan also placed well in the 6th place, along with Israel (12), India (10), South Africa (10), and China (9).
- USA (368)
- United Kingdom (132)
- Germany (107)
- France (62)
- Sweden (30)
In this ranking, Hungary is in 21st place with 9 Nobel Prizes. It is important to mention that the ranking considers a Hungarian Nobel laureate who was born in Hungary and left the country as an adult. In addition, there are six Nobel winners who were not born in Hungary but at least one of their parents was of Hungarian origin.
Average IQ level
As Hungarian news portal Origo reports, as far as the average IQ level is concerned, a different pattern can be observed, as only Asian countries are in the top six, in the following order:
- Singapore (107.1)
- China (105.8)
- Hongkong (105.7)
- South Korea (104.6)
- Taiwan (104.6)
- Japan (104.2)
The first European country is Finland in 7th place with an average IQ of 100.9. Hungary is ranked in the 24th place, along with France, with an average IQ of 98.1.
Education
In terms of education, Asian countries are at the forefront of this list. The ranking is based on the proportion of students entering higher education.
- Singapore (71.37%)
- South Korea (66.85%)
- Hongkong (66.66%)
- Tajvan (63.21%)
- Japan (58.01%)
Here, the first European country is Russia in 6th place with 38.46%. Hungary is the 14th on the list with 29.4%. Surprisingly, Kazakhstan is 9th in the rankings in this regard, while countries like the UK, Canada, Germany, or France are not in the top 25.
Read also: Wow! Four Hungarian universities listed among the 1000 best in the world
Overall results
The final list consists of the three factors listed above.
The absolute winner is Japan due to the fact that there was no category in which it was not among the best six.
Switzerland finished in second place, followed by China, the USA, and the Netherlands in the ranking. The small number of Nobel laureates was the factor that pushed Asian countries back in the overall rankings, with Singapore becoming the 25th, winning two categories but with no Nobel Prize-winning scientist.
However, we can proudly announce that Hungary is ranked 16th in the overall ranking thanks to being among the best 25 in all the categories.
The full list can be viewed here.
Read alsoIncredible Hungarian success at international mental arithmetic competition
Wow! Four Hungarian universities listed among 1000 best in the world
Seven Hungarian universities were included in the 2021 world ranking of the recently published US News Best Global Universities. Semmelweis University achieved the best result as, based on the ranking, it came in at 87th place.
When it comes to the overall ranking in the world, Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) got the best place among Hungarian institutions: it became the 414th. The second was Semmelweis University (672nd), the third was the University of Debrecen ( 672nd), and the fourth was the University of Szeged (726th) in the 2021 ranking. Among Hungarian universities, the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) and the University of Pécs (PTE) are no longer in the top thousand: BME was chosen as 1020th while PTE ended up as the 1131st. The Central European University (CEU) was also included in the list with a partial result, writes eduline. So, overall,
ELTE became the best university in Hungary.
Moreover, ELTE ranked 182nd in the European sub-rankings. When looking at individual courses, ELTE ranked 543rd in Chemistry, 226th in Physics, 230th in Psychology, and 155th in Space Research.
Semmelweis University ranked 87th in the field of cardiology and the cardiovascular system. Compared to last year’s result, this is 25 places ahead, so it became the best Hungarian institution in the scientific sub-ranking this year. Semmelweis University ranks 285th on the European list. Besides, eight specialisations of the university ranked between 87th and 345th.
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The University of Debrecen ranked 285th in Europe and had the best ranking (375th) in Physics. The University of Szeged was ranked in four sub-ranks (Chemistry, Pharmaceutics, Neurology, and Behavioural Sciences and Physics), while on Europe’s list, it earned the 308th place.
BME achieved the best partial ranking (491st) in IT, becoming 402nd in the overall European list. The University of Pécs is the 444th best institution in Europe according to the US News ranking. The university achieved its best partial ranking in Clinical Pharmacy (512th), while CEU, although not included in the overall ranking, jumped to the 346th place in the Social Sciences.
According to the higher education strategy of the Ministry of Human Capacities prepared in 2012, this year, some Hungarian universities should have been among the top universities in the world.
These universities include ELTE, the University of Pécs, the University of Debrecen, and the University of Szeged. However, this huge improvement is lagging behind. Achieving high-profile positions in international rankings was also included in the Corvinus University’s long-term strategy, which underwent a model change in 2019. It is an interesting fact that the best universities in the European Union are state-run universities.
Semmelweis University’s cardiology faculty among world’s top 100
Semmelweis University has improved its previous position in the 2021 world rankings of the “US News Best Global Universities” in several disciplines. The university was ranked related to 8 medical and health science professions, ranking first in each field in Hungary. The university also achieved the best ranking this year in the “Cardiology and Cardiovascular System” field, which improved twenty-five places and became the 87th best higher education institution in the world in this field.
According to the university official site, Semmelweis University has been included in lists of eight different disciplines of the “US News Best Global Universities” 2021 world rankings. This year, the university achieved the best result again in the category “Cardiology and Cardiovascular System”, which improved 25 places and became the 87th best in the world in this field. The analysis of the individual indicators shows that the citation of university publications on an international level is outstanding in this field, and in this respect the institution ranked 17th. (The relevant indicator examined the proportion of all scientific publications related to the university in this field that accounted for the top one percent of the world’s most cited publications.)
Compared to its previous position, Semmelweis University has also advanced in the rankings of Clinical Medicine (200th place), Oncology (217th place), Biology and Biochemistry (321st place). In 2021, Semmelweis University was ranked 155th in the list in the recently introduced field of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 202nd in Cell Biology, 306th in Neuroscience and Behavioral Science, and 345th in Molecular Biology and Genetics.
The universities were compared based on 13 indicators, most of which are related to objectively measurable scientific performance (e.g. number and proportion of publications, citations, international collaborations, etc.), while two indicators are based on a so-called reputation survey.
The ranking includes nearly 1,500 higher education institutions from more than 80 countries.
The innovation and technology ministry said additional higher education funding of 1,500 billion forints (EUR 4.2bn) as part of the recovery action plan would give fresh impetus to efforts to catch up with the world elite.
Innovation and Technology Minister László Palkovics reinforced the government’s commitment to ensuring that a number of Hungarian universities secure a stable position among the best in the world by the end of this decade.
Read alsoHungary’s medical universities free to decide on operational model?
Budapest in the Expat City Ranking 2020
InterNations, the world’s largest expat community with around 4 million members, publishes its Expat City Ranking 2020. It is based on the annual Expat Insider survey, which is one of the most extensive surveys about living and working abroad. This year, more than 15,000 expats participated in the survey.
In 2020, 66 cities around the globe are analyzed in the Expat City Ranking, offering in-depth information about five areas of expat life: Quality of Urban Living, Getting Settled, Urban Work Life, Finance & Housing, and Local Cost of Living. Taken together, the first four areas make up the Expat City Ranking, which reveals the best and worst cities for expats to live in.
As the data was collected in March 2020, just before COVID-19 turned into a global pandemic, one question, however, remains: Will these cities still come out on top in a post-COVID world?
Hungary
Hungary lands in the lower half of the Environment & Sustainability Ranking (35th out of 60 countries) ranking below average for most factors featured in the survey. It does best in the Quality of Environment subcategory (32nd): Expats rate the factor water and sanitation better than the global average (76% positive ratings vs. 72% globally). However, only three in four respondents (75%) like the natural environment in Hungary (vs. 82% globally), and less than half (49%) are satisfied with the air quality (vs. 62% globally).
Hungary places 34th in the Products & Utilities subcategory, with around four in seven expats (57%) expressing their satisfaction with the country’s waste management and recycling measures, which is also just below the global average (60%).
And there are also fewer expats who are happy with Hungary’s energy supply (57% vs. 62% globally) and the availability of green goods and services (59% vs. 63% globally).
Lastly, the country performs rather poorly in the Policies & People subcategory (38th): according to expats, the population does not seem to be very interested in environmental issues (33% vs. 30% globally). Moreover, the government does not appear to be supporting policies to protect the environment either, with only 36% of expats agreeing that they do (vs. 55% globally).
Budapest
Out of 66 cities in the Expat City Ranking 2020, Budapest comes in 43rd. The Hungarian capital receives its best results in the Local Cost of Living Index (7th): nearly three in five expats (58%) rate the cost of living positively (vs. 46% globally).
A Canadian survey respondent shares that “the cost of living is very affordable for the salary I earn.”
Ranking 43rd out of 66 cities in total, Budapest ends up well in the bottom half of the Expat City Ranking 2020. The Hungarian capital receives its best results in the Local Cost of Living Index (7th): nearly three in five expats (58%) rate the cost of living positively (vs. 46% globally). A Canadian survey respondent shares that “the cost of living is very affordable for the salary I earn.” The city also performs well in the Finance & Housing subcategory (21st), with about two-thirds of expats (66%) saying that it is easy to find housing in Budapest (vs. 55% globally), and 43% rating the affordability of housing positively (vs. 41% globally).
Budapest’s performance in the Quality of Urban Living Index (37th) is rather mixed, the city performing well for transportation (4th) but poorly in the Health & Environment subcategory (57th). “The public transportation is amazing and convenient,” says a South African expat. In fact, all expats (100%) rate Budapest’s public transportation system positively (vs. 66% globally). But Hungary’s capital is nearly the worst for the local availability of healthcare (65th), only ahead of Dublin (66th). Close to three in ten expats (28%) rate this factor negatively (vs. 14% globally).
The Urban Work Life (51st) and Getting Settled (54th) Indices are Budapest’s weakest points. Only 45% of expats describe the local residents as generally friendly (vs. 68% globally), and 31% find it hard to get used to the local culture (vs. 21% globally). According to an expat from Greece, “most locals are not very sociable towards foreigners”.
Read also
- Expats in Hungary: how much do you really need to speak Hungarian?
- “You would open your heart here” – Expat stories from Budapest – Video
These Cities Are the Best and Worst in the World for Expats
Out of 66 cities in the Expat City Ranking 2020, Valencia (1st), Alicante, Lisbon, Panama City, Singapore, Málaga, Buenos Aires, Kuala Lumpur, Madrid, and Abu Dhabi (10th) are the top 10 cities for expats to live in 2020. On the other hand, expats consider Salmiya in Kuwait (66th), Rome, Seoul, Milan, Nairobi, Paris, Johannesburg, Santiago, Dublin, and Hong Kong (57th) the world’s worst cities to live in.
About the Expat City Ranking 2020
The Expat City Ranking is based on the annual Expat Insider survey by InterNations. For the survey, more than 15,000 expatriates representing 173 nationalities and living in 181 countries or territories provided information on various aspects of expat life. In addition to their satisfaction with life in their host country, respondents were also invited to share their opinions on the city they are currently living in.
Participants were asked to rate more than 25 different aspects of urban life abroad on a scale of one to seven. The rating process emphasized the respondents’ personal satisfaction with these aspects, considering both emotional topics and more factual aspects with equal weight. The respondents’ ratings of the individual factors were then bundled in various combinations for a total of 13 subcategories, and their mean values were used to draw up four topical indices: Quality of Urban Living, Getting Settled, Urban Work Life, and Finance & Housing. These were further averaged in order to rank 66 cities worldwide. In 2020, the top 10 cities for expats are Valencia, Alicante, Lisbon, Panama City, Singapore, Málaga, Buenos Aires, Kuala Lumpur, Madrid, and Abu Dhabi. The survey also includes a Local Cost of Living Index, which does, however, not factor into the overall ranking to avoid overrepresenting financial aspects.
For a city to be featured in the Expat City Ranking 2020, a sample size of at least 50 survey participants per city was required.
International Schools prices in Europe: Budapest more expensive than average
At the International Schools Database, we help local and expat parents choose the perfect international school for their children. Our database allows parents to find, research and compare international schools in cities across five continents. Naturally, this means that we gather and analyse a huge amount of information about international schools all over the world.
Our latest research project uses this data to evaluate the prices of international schools across the globe. In this article, we share and analyze the prices of international schools in Europe.
Below, we have analysed price data from 29 cities in 19 European countries, in graph and table forms. While we have used all price data available to us, there may be additional schools and prices not included in each city, because they do not make their price data available or it is unknown to us. Links to additional research focusing in each of the other regions individually and globally can be found at the bottom of this article.
PRICES OF INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS IN EUROPE, PER YEAR
The graph below is known as a box plot graph. It shows a comprehensive view of the range of prices in each city, instead of just an average, as a single average price may not necessarily represent the full picture of prices in each destination.
HIGHLIGHTS AND TAKEAWAYS FROM THE RESEARCH FINDINGS
Spain is among the cheapest countries in Europe for international school fees, with 6 cities among the cheapest in the region: Valencia, Malaga, Alicante, Madrid, Barcelona, and Mallorca.
Switzerland dominates as the most expensive country in Europe for international schools; Zurich, Lausanne and Geneva take the top 3 spots. Lausanne and Geneva are both small cities with a population of less than 200,000. This is in stark contrast with the 4th most expensive city in Europe for international education – London and its population of 9 million!
Budapest is more expensive than the average city in Europe for international schools: 10th out of 29 cities.
Budapest’s international schools:
- Austrian-Hungarian European School
- BME International Secondary Grammar School
- Budapest British International Academy
- REAL School Budapest
- Lycée Francais Gustave Eiffel de Budapest
- American International School of Budapest
- Budapest British International School
- The British International School Budapest
- Britannica International School, Budapest
- International School of Budapest
- International Christian School of Budapest
- SEK Budapest International School
- Orchidea International School
As we wrote a week ago, Kindergartens can’t refer to English education in their names, only to languages of ethnicities such as German. Moreover, they need to cancel English education. Read more here.
The lowest maximum, however, belongs to the Danish capital Copenhagen. In Denmark both public and private schools (which includes international schools) are all heavily subsidised by the government. This may explain why education is so affordable – comparatively speaking – in a country with a reputation for a high cost of living.
Two of Europe’s iconic capitals – Paris and London – have the biggest range of international school prices. In Paris the difference between the cheapest and most expensive international schools is $33k a year. In London this difference is slightly higher at $34k a year.
In contrast, other major European capitals like Berlin and Rome have a narrower range of international school fees. In Rome for example the cost difference between the least and the most expensive international schools is $15k a year, and in Berlin $14k.
There is a clear difference in international school prices between Western and Central Europe and the East and South of the continent.
7 of the top 10 cities with the highest international school fees are in Western and Central Europe, while 7 of the 10 cheapest cities for international schools are in Eastern and Southern Europe.
You can find a breakdown of exact prices for each European city in the table below.
PRICES OF INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS PER YEAR
You can find all International school in Budapest, Hungary HERE.
Budapest’s Corvinus amongst the top business universities in Eastern Europe
The Corvinus University of Budapest is the only Hungarian higher education institution to be included in the prestigious Eastern European business school ranking of Eduniversal. The university has been on the podium for the fourth year in a row, this year being the second best of 86 schools in 21 countries.
Each year, the French Eduniversal network compiles a ranking of the world’s higher education institutions of business studies, intending to guide those interested in studying business when choosing a university. The organization selects the best-known thousands of institutions from all business schools worldwide and ranks them by nine geographical regions: Africa, Central Asia, Eurasia and the Middle East, Far East, Latin America, North America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe and Oceania.
Eduniversal uses a dual methodology to compile its annual rankings. The evaluation is based on the votes of the deans of the thousands of institutions participating in the survey, supplemented by the results of Eduniversal’s internal evaluation system. In addition to the evaluation of scientific work, the place in the ranking also highlights the university’s international reputation.
For the fourth year in a row, Corvinus University of Budapest has been on the podium in the Eastern European ranking of Eduniversal.
This year, it ranked second among 86 business schools in 21 countries. This year, Prague University of Economics and Business finished first, while the third place is shared by the University of Warsaw – Faculty of Management and the University of Ljubljana – School of Economics and Business.
In addition to its excellent position in the Eastern European rankings, Corvinus University of Budapest retained its four-palm rankings this year as well. This also means that as the holder of the Palms of Excellence Award with four palm rankings, i.e. with an outstanding number of dean votes, the Corvinus University of Budapest managed to stay in the elite club of the 200 best business schools in the Eduniversal network this year, too.
The Palms of Excellence Awards was one of the highlights of the international organization’s one-week World Congress, which due to the pandemic situation was held this year online, with unique and forward-looking virtual solutions.
The Corvinus University of Budapest is Hungary’s leading university in the field of economic and social science studies.
The medium-term goal of the renewed BCE, which as of July 1 2019, became a private university controlled by a foundation, is to become the best higher education institution in the mentioned fields not only nationally, but also in Central and Eastern Europe. As part of the University’s Renewal Program, launched in 2019, significant developments have begun in both academic and institutional operations aimed at strengthening BCE’s position on the international stage, with particular reference to the emergence of internationally outstanding research results.
Nearly 12,000 students, including 3,500 foreign students, are currently studying at the Corvinus University campuses in Budapest and Székesfehérvár.
The institution maintains close relationships with 300 partner universities worldwide. The strengths of Corvinus’ training are its practice-oriented approach, active market relationships, and its performance-based Corvinus Scholarship Scheme, which encourages students to produce outstanding results. BCE regularly achieves a prominent position in the international higher education rankings, becoming the first in the region’s Eduniversal ranking in 2019 with its Business Administration and Management course, and with its Masters course in Management and Leadership, in 2020 it was included in the Financial Times Masters in Management ranking as one of the 100 best business schools in Europe. This is due, among other things, to the fact that the University operates more than 20 internationally recognized research centers, and its doctoral schools cover 7 educational areas. Currently, a significant part of Hungary’s economic, political and academic elite is a graduate of Corvinus, but an important goal of the University’s Renewal Program is to provide its students with a degree and knowledge that can be used in the international labor market by providing more and more high-quality English language training.
Read alsoDigital education: not at every Hungarian university? – All details below!
These are the best Hungarian high schools in 2020
This year’s high school ranking by HVG shows an outstanding performance from institutions in Budapest as opposed to the rest of the country.
Every year, shortly before the application period, HVG publishes a ranking of the best Hungarian secondary grammar schools, using the database of the Educational Authority (Oktatási Hivatal). The 2020 list was based on the results of the 2018/2019 school year and brought a sweeping victory for schools in the Hungarian capital:
with only one example, all the schools in the top 10 are located in Budapest.
But as 24 writes, between the 11th and 20th places, schools in the countryside are the majority. Overall, in the top100 ranking, roughly 40 schools are located outside the Hungarian capital.
Based on the ranking, Hungary’s best secondary grammar school in 2020 is ELTE Radnóti Miklós School, a training institution that belongs under Eötvös Loránd University.
The only secondary school outside the capital that made it to the top 10 is Lovassy László Secondary Grammar School (although in tie with another Budapest-based school). The school in Veszprém usually performs very well in national rankings of this kind.
Here is the complete list:
- ELTE Radnóti Miklós School (Budapest)
- Eötvös József Secondary School of District 5 (Budapest)
- Fazekas Mihály Elementary and Secondary School (Budapest)
- ELTE Apáczai Csere János High School and Dormitory (Budapest)
- ELTE Trefort Ágoston Teacher Training School (Budapest)
- Szent István High School of District 14 (Budapest)
- Városmajori High School and Kós Károly Elementary School (Budapest)
- Toldy Ferenc Secondary Grammar School of District I (Budapest)
- Veres Péter Secondary School of Békásmegyer (Budapest)
- Madách Imre Secondary School of District VII (Budapest), and Lovassy László Secondary Grammar School (Veszprém)
Smart City Index 2020: Budapest among the most underdeveloped cities in the region
Based on the results of the survey conducted by the IMD World Competitiveness Center and the Singapore University for Technology and Design (SUTD), Singapore, Helsinki and Zurich have been selected as the top 3 “smartest” cities in 2020. Compared to last year, Budapest’s ranking improved six places. However, the Hungarian capital can still be considered an underdeveloped city regarding its health services, corruption of city officials and affordable housing options.
Although numerous research have been conducted on the topic of the ’smart city’, the Smart City Index is the only report offering a ranking based on specific data, Vg argued. The Institute for Management Development and the Singapore University for Technology and Design have examined 109 cities worldwide to provide a comprehensive image capturing the various dimensions of “smartness” viewed by the citizens.
SCI offers a global vision of the development of smart cities in all parts of the world, focusing on two major aspects: the existing infrastructure of the cities referred to as the “Structures” and the technological provisions and services available to the inhabitants under the category of “Technology”. The report also considers each country’s level of human development based on the “Human Development Index” (HDI) published annually by the United Nations.
The SCI’s uniqueness can be attributed to two key elements: it clarifies a concept that lacks a uniform and practical definition, and it relies mainly on the perceptions of those who live and work in the cities. In the report’s context,
a ‘smart city’ is defined as “an urban setting that applies technology to enhance the benefits and diminish the shortcomings of urbanisation for its citizens”.
The second edition of the IMD-SUTD Smart City Index Report was published on September 17, discussing how technology is playing a role in the COVID−19 era. Although it will take years to identify the more profound consequences of the current crisis, the economic and social crises are expected to intensify. The report argues that since digitalisation plays a pivotal role in the emergency responses to the pandemic, there is a correlation between smarter cities and those handling the pandemic better.
Cities that have systematised the use of smart city tools more permanently and have invested in economic recovery and environmental sustainability have a better chance to cope with the most damaging effects of the pandemic.
Consequently, the coronavirus crisis is expected to significantly increase the gap between cities that can utilise technology to manage the economic and social effects and the ones who cannot.
The podium positions were taken by Singapore, Helsinki and Zurich, followed by Auckland, Oslo, Copenhagen, Geneva, Taipei City, Amsterdam and New York. Rabat, Cairo, Abuja, Nairobi and Lagos ranked the lowest regarding the use of technological solutions to provide a “smarter” life for the citizens.
Although Budapest’s ranking improved six places, the Hungarian capital still belongs to the category of underdeveloped cities, ranking 77th out of the 109 examined settlements.
Considering its position compared to Wien, Bucharest and the Visegrád 4 capitals, Budapest placed 5th:
City Smart City Rank 2020
Wien 25.
Prague 44.
Warsaw 55.
Bratislava 76.
Budapest 77.
Bucharest 87.
Nonetheless, it has to be noted that since the results are based on the opinion of a relatively low number of respondents −120 people per city, regardless of the size of the settlement−, the survey does not provide an objective reflection on the cities’ technological preparedness.
In terms of infrastructure,
the majority of Hungarian respondents were the most dissatisfied with the health care system, air pollution, traffic jams and housing opportunities.
Budapest citizens also emphasised their concern about traffic congestion, the lack of online platforms where residents can propose ideas has improved city life and the corruption of city officials.
If you want to learn more about the topics of innovation, urbanisation and the ’smart city’, Bruno Lanvin President of the IMD Smart City Observatory will give a lecture in Hungary on October 27.
Read alsoHungary is among the countries with the fastest Internet connection speed
WOW! Opera Gin Budapest internationally awarded as the best premium gin in 2020
The Hungarian handicraft gin brand, Opera Gin Budapest, debuted last year and has achieved enormous international success within this period. After having won the international product design competition Red Dot Award, now a new international recognition has been achieved thanks to the professionally recognisable taste of the Hungarian spirit.
Within the framework of the world’s largest spirits blind tasting competition – The Global Spirits Masters -, every major spirits category from brandy to vodka are evaluated separately. The international event has become more and more significant since its start in 2008, and as a result, the number of participants sets records every year – in 2019, more than 300 gin brands attended the competition. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the number of applicants this year did not reach previous years’ results; however, the category was still very popular with nearly 200 competitors.
Opera Gin Budapest, introduced by the First Hungarian Gin Manufactory Ltd., won the gold medal in the Premium Gin category, obtaining outstanding scores (between 80-89) in the blind tests.
“From the very beginning, we have cherished the desire to put the stamp of a professional award on our bottle, and it should adorn our otherwise award-winning label. However, we did not think that this recognition would be achieved so soon. This is a huge pride for the team. I congratulate and thank everyone for bringing glory not only to ourselves but also to the domestic gin market,” said the founder of the brand, Bálint Dámosy, in connection with the announcement of the award.
As Hungarian news portal igenyesferfi.hu reports,
Opera Gin Budapest deserved attention for its “great texture” and “elegant, dark chocolate characteristic”.
The Global Spirits Masters employs only independent expert reviewers, including journalists, retail shoppers, bartenders, and instructors; this extensive professional committee means a guarantee for the applicants. Judges may award silver, gold, and master medals, as well as additional trophies.
First, the results of Gin Masters 2020 are published in The Spirits Business magazine, which – with 13,000 copies a month and a global presence spanning 76 countries – guarantees that the glory of the winners will reach an international professional audience worldwide.
Read also:
- Hungarian wine regions explained: Yield such an alcohol!
- The history of Hungary’s most famous alcohol: Pálinka
IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2020: Hungary maintains competitive position
Hungary is still competitive internationally in spite of the pandemic, the finance ministry said on Tuesday, citing the Swiss IMD competitiveness rankings which shows Hungary still in 47th place, unchanged since 2018.
The annual rankings, now in their 32nd year, have been released unlocking a wealth of data on the performance of 63 economies across the globe.
Hungary remains an attractive international investment target and among the fastest-growing economies in the European Union, with competitive tax regulations and a skilled workforce, the ministry said.
IMD has Singapore in first place followed by Switzerland and Denmark.
When it comes to the domestic economy, Hungary advanced by 5 places to 18th thanks to its rapid growth and the high investment rate, the ministry said.
In terms of international investments, it improved by 23 spots to 40th place, while on the employment scale, it advanced 14 places to 20th place thanks to its high employment rate and falling jobless rate.
Before the coronavirus outbreak, Hungary’s economy was among the EU’s fastest-growing economies, and this was combined with strict fiscal management and a declining public debt,
the ministry said, adding that Hungary is now prioritising relaunching the economy with a focus on job-protection, helping out businesses and households with precisely targeted economic protection measures.
The National Competitiveness Council will continue its work, which has already paid dividends in improving the country’s competitiveness in many areas, the ministry added.
IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2020
Read alsoWOW! Hungarian universities among the best in the world!
WOW! Hungarian universities among the best in the world!
In the newest ranking of Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), seven Hungarian universities were featured among the best in the world this year.
Read alsoA guide to applying in Hungarian University
Forbes reported that between the 501st and 510th positions, the University of Szeged and the University of Debrecen earned the title of the best universities in the world, and they were the two out of the seven Hungarian ones with the best scores on an international list.
The British company published its annual survey on June 10, which ranked thousands of higher education institutions from 93 countries worldwide.
The survey took into consideration the universities’ scientific lives, the number of foreign students and teachers, and the reputation of the institutions’ scientific work.
Further Hungarian institutions featured:
521-530th: University of Debrecen
601-650th: ELTE Budapest
651-700th: University of Pécs
801-1000th: Budapest University of Technology and Science, Corvinus University of Budapest, Szent István University, and the University of Miskolc.
The top universities in the world are:
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- Stanford University
- Harvard University
- California Institute of Technology
- University of Oxford
- ETH Zurich
- University of Cambridge
- Imperial College London
- University of Chicago
- University College London (UCL)
Featured image: Alpár Kató/Daily News Hungary
Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music 47th best performing arts university in the world
Hungary’s Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music ranks among the top 50 on the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) list of global performing arts universities, and it scores 21st in terms of its reputation. In the central and eastern European region, the Liszt Ferenc Academy, in 47th place, is the only one to make it to the top 50. Within the EU, the Academy is ranked 14th and 8th in terms of its reputation, according to QS.
Hungary ranked 89th out of 180 countries considering its degree of press freedom
Reporters Without Borders (Reporters Sans Frontières, RSF in French), one of the leading organisations defending the rights of journalists and promoting the freedom of information, has published its annual index evaluating the degree of press freedom in 180 countries and territories.
Compared to the results of the previous year, Hungary’s ranking fell 2 places. RSF explained that
“2019 was relatively quiet year in the Hungarian media”
and the ownership structure did not show significant changes. The organisation also added that, in 2019, the government’s control over the media was strengthened by the re-election of the Media Council.
The Hungarian media landscape was dominated by the pro-government media foundation, the Central European Press and Media Foundation (abbreviated as KESMA in Hungarian) and independent journalists had rather limited access to information.
Read alsoWhere is Budapest on the list of the world’s most stressed-out cities?
The top 4 countries with the most considerable press freedom are all Nordic countries: Norway (being in first place for the fourth year in a row), Finland, Denmark, Sweden. They are followed by the Netherlands, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Switzerland, New Zealand and Portugal.
The complete list is available on the organisation’s website.
Together with countries such as Serbia (93rd), Ukraine (96th) and Bulgaria (111th), Hungary is among the last 10 European countries on the list.
The organisation identified a correlation between the countries’ response to the current coronavirus pandemic and the degree of media freedom. According to Christophe Deloire, the secretary-general of RSF,
“We are entering a decisive decade for journalism linked to crises that affect its future. The coronavirus pandemic illustrates the negative factors threatening the right to reliable information, and is itself an exacerbating factor.”
Coronavirus – Hungary among the safest epidemic-hit countries in Europe
The international Deep Knowledge Group examined forty countries and their governmental measurements regarding the outbreak of the coronavirus. The research team ranked each country concerning how safe they are with these measurements during the pandemic.
Magyar Nemzet reported that the group examined when the governments announced the different measurements, banned travelling abroad, and (if it was a necessity) introduced the lockdown of a city or state. Furthermore, testing and the capacity of hospitals were also important factors in the survey. According to all of these facts, Israel is the safest and the most stable country in the world. With 9 million residents and 12,000 infected people, its government was among the first countries to announce measurements.
It is also remarkable that on the European continent, Hungary is the fourth safest country regarding governmental measurements and the only major European countries ahead of us are Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
Although Germany had a record number of infected people, due to confident and strict restrictions, the spreading of the virus was significantly slowed down. This could be beneficial for the country’s economy as well. Surprisingly, some Asian countries finished among the top ten. South Korea, for example, is the third, followed by Australia, but even China finished in the fifth place.
Read alsoChina lifts 76-day lockdown on virus-hit Wuhan
On the other hand, the group also ranked the most unstable countries where safety is not guaranteed at all. The first three are Italy, the United States of America and the United Kingdom. Other ones are Spain, France, and Iran. The nearby countries are among the safest; only Romania got into the negative list.
Sweden, an exceptional country regarding the handling of the epidemic, is surprisingly only the sixth most risked country.
Featured image: MTI
These are the most popular Hungarian politicians
Data was revealed from February 2020 about Hungarian politicians’ popularity along with a ranking about who the favourites of Hungarian citizens are.
HVG reported that it was a general fact that the politicians of the Fidesz Party are more popular than others, as more Fidesz voters answered the survey than the supporters of other parties.
The top three Hungarian politicians are
- János Áder (reputation: 93%, popularity: 52%)
- Viktor Orbán (reputation: 99%, popularity: 49%)
- Mihály Varga (reputation: 76%, popularity: 47%)
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán made it onto the list of foreign politicians and public figures whose work is valued the most by the Czech public opinion.
He finished high on the list of eleven people. The results of the survey conducted by the STEM Institute in Prague were published in August 2019. The national survey collected data in June, revealing that the Czechs value Slovakian head of state Zuzana Caputová the most out of any foreign politician or public figure.
Others include:
| Politician | Reputation | Popularity | |
| Péter Szíjjártó | 90% | 46% | |
| Gergely Karácsony | 90% | 43% | |
| Sándor Pintér | 89% | 38% | |
| Katalin Novák | 75% | 36% | |
| Antal Rogán | 92% | 35% | |
| Gergely Gulyás | 76% | 34% | |
| Ferenc Gyurcsány | 96% | 24% | |
| Máté Kocsis | 64% | 37% | |
| Klára Dobrev | 84% | 31% |
From the political party called DK, Klára Dobrev is still the most liked and least rejected politican, more so than Ferenc Gyurcsány.
Featured image: MTI
Read alsoHow much money does Hungary spend on protecting politicians?
Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music 47th best performing arts university in world
Hungary’s Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music ranks among the top 50 on the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) list of global performing arts universities, and it scores 21st in terms of its reputation.
In the central and eastern European region, the Liszt Ferenc Academy, in 47th place, is the only one to make it to the top 50. Within the EU, the Academy is ranked 14th and 8th in terms of its reputation, according to QS.
The Academy is in a similar spot to Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Conservatory (44th), as well as the Berlin (46th) and Hamburg (48th) academies, and King’s College, London (42nd).
When it comes to reputation, it scores similarly to Indiana University Bloomington and Northwestern University in Illinois.
As we wrote few days ago, there are ten Hungarian universities that made it to the list of the 1,368 best universities in the world, details HERE.
Read alsoHungarian Franz Liszt Academy among the best 100 institutions in the world
10 best rural Hungarian restaurants in 2020!
Not only Budapest has restaurants that offer gastronomical specialities anymore. Many rural cities have restaurants, bistros, confectionaries with menus listing both traditional dishes and local delicacies.
There is a gastro-revolution happening, with new generation restaurants opening up in more and more places. While it may have started in downtown Budapest, other Hungarian cities are closely following, by providing professional services that live up to European standards. Street food, food trucks and new-wave cafés are thriving, according to Helló Vidék.
The annual Dining Guide TOP100 has listed the best rural restaurants in Hungary for 2020, here is the list:
10. Ikon, Debrecen
In 2019 the restaurant got a new English chef. The restaurant now has a more direct feel, and the concept has loosened up. It has a fine dining menu but also offers simpler meals. There is also a six-seat chef table, from which guests can view how the food is made. Critiques suggest trying their ramen and gourmet hamburger.
9. Lamareda, Győr
Last year the place could not make the list despite being one of the best restaurants in the city. The family business’s menu has a hint of international tastes but lists many Hungarian traditional dishes with modern twists as well.
8. Tannin Resto, Zalaegerszeg
The restaurant was opened in 2017 and represents the contemporary kitchen of Zala, as well as Göcsej and Őrség. They bring authentic rural fine dining to the table, known for colourful serving and the use of many vegetables. They also pay careful attention to an extensive wine range.
7. Macok Bisztró, Eger
The restaurant was reformed in 2019 but maintained its laid back elegance and playful thinking. They moved up a place on the list since last year. Their kitchen is a mix of traditional Hungarian dishes and fine dining. The food is not only delicious but is pleasing to the eyes as well.
6. Bistro Sparhelt, Balatonfüred
The Dining Guide lists the bistro as the best on the Northern shore of Lake Balaton. They serve simple but carefully prepared Hungarian dishes with a modern understanding. They pay attention to using local and Hungarian ingredients and see using regional ingredients as one of their main goals.
Read also10 + 2 best restaurants in Hungary!
Read also10 best rural Hungarian restaurants in 2020!
5. Pajta, Őriszentpéter
The restaurant was also awarded for its sustainability this year. Last year they got 7th place. They have many vendors from nearby areas but also grow their own vegetables and fruit in their own garden. They serve foods with pumpkin seed oil, pumpkins, buckthorn and venison.
4. Sauska48, Villány
“Free villager gourmet kitchen,” is how this gastronomical hotspot of Villány can be described. Amazing, simple, but carefully prepared and made dishes await those who decide to dine here. Their menu is changing seasonally and is accompanied by their best wines.
3. Kistücsök, Balatonszemes
Kistücsök has been a staple of the lists since the gastro-revolution started, and is one of the oldest and most famous ones. They got 17th place on the national list. They represent the contemporary Hungarian kitchen. They have a unique wine menu. They also make sure to get as many ingredients from local producers as possible.
2. Platán, Tata
They remained in second place and got 15th place on the national top 20. The menu has an Asian feel to it but keeps up with other worldwide trends as well. More and more of their ingredients are from their own garden. Their desserts have gotten significantly better recently too.
1. Anyukám mondta, Encs
The restaurant that has been in first place for years also got the award for Rural Restaurant of the Year at the Dining Guide’s award ceremony this year and placed 13th on the national list. The top-quality Italian ingredients, the home-pickled vegetables and home-made syrups make a unique but delicious menu.
10 + 2 best restaurants in Hungary!
There were not many new names featured on the top 12 list of the best Hungarian restaurants at the Dining Guide’s awards.
The Volkswagen-Dining Guide Award Gala presented with some awards the chefs who prepare fine dining dishes each day. This year, just like the last, there were 10+2 chefs awarded, as well as a list of honorary mentions, reported Turizmus Online.
Szilárd Tóth from SALT received two awards for his extraordinary style kitchen, while Richárd Farkas from Pajta received Dining Guide’s first-ever “green” award. The “Lovable Restaurant of the Year” award was handed out for the first time, received by Két Szerecsen Bisztró, who have never been on the list before. The chef of another recently opened place, Laurel, was awarded the “Young Talented Chef of the Year” title. Freyja and the “perfect croissants” were also among the winners.
The Restaurant of the Year award went to Stand Étterem.
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Read also10 + 2 best restaurants in Hungary!
Top 10+2:
- Arany Kaviár – Chef: László Kanász
- Babel Budapest – Chef: István Veres
- Borkonyha – Chef: Ákos Sárközi
- Costes – Chef: Miguel Vieirea
- Costes Downtown – Chef: Miguel Vieirea
- Onyx – Chef: Ádám Mészáros
- Pasztell – Chef: János Erdei
- SALT – Chef: Szilárd Tóth
- St. Andrea Restaurant – Chef: Ádám Barna
- Stand – Chefs: Tamás Széll, Szabina Szulló
- Stand 25 – Chefs: Tamás Széll, Szabina Szulló
- Textúra – Chef: Ákos Sárközi
Dining Guide’s special awards in 2020:
- Dining Guide Römerquelle Sustainability Award: Pajta
- Dining Guide Innovative Kitchen of the Year Award: SALT
- Dining Guide Master Good Promising Restaurant of the Year Award: Pasztell
- Dining Guide Chef of the Year Award: Ádám Mészáros, Onyx
- Dining Guide Miele Young Talented Chef of the Year Award: Ádám Mede, Laurel Budapest
- Dining Guide Restaurant Service of the Year Award: Arany Kaviár Étterem
- Dining Guide Törley Pezsgőmanufaktúra Lovable Restaurant of the Year Award: Két Szerecsen Bisztró
- Dining Guide Life-work Award: József Pergel, Déryné Bisztró
- Dining Guide Rural Restaurant of the Year Award: Anyukám Mondta
- Dining Guide Alternative Restaurant of the Year Award: Freyja – the croissant story
- Dining Guide ZAX Confectionary of the Year: Mihályi Patisserie
Hungarian train among top 10 in Europe
A Hungarian train has scored a spot in the top 10 for best sleeper trains in Europe.
The Budapest to Bucharest trains have been put on The Guardian‘s list of 10 of the best sleeper trains.
The train, which leaves in the early evening hours from Keleti station in Budapest goes to Bucharest. The train ride is over 16 hours, so naturally, people will need to sleep, and the train does not arrive in Gara de Nord until just afternoon. According to The Guardian, the sleeping arrangements on the trains are quite suitable. They also add that there may only be a restaurant car after passing the Romanian border.
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Read alsoHungarian train among top 10 in Europe
The other trains on the list are:
- Brussels to Vienna, 14-hour journeys twice a week.
- Helsinki to Rovaniemi, an almost 12-hour ride.
- London Paddington to Penzance, a five-to-eight-hour ride, depending on a number of stops.
- Madrid to Lisbon, the second shortest journey, with just 9 and a half hours of travelling.
- Milan to Palermo, at least a 14-hour ride, but could take up to 22 hours based on the route.
- Nice to Moscow, a two-day adventure.
- Paris to Rome, another 14-hour-long train ride.
- Stockholm to Narvik, which can take 18 to 20 and a half hours.
- Zurich to Hamburg, another Nightjet train, like Brussels to Vienna, but this one is only 12 hours long.