News

On October 7th, Dr. Tulia Ackson, Speaker of the Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania and President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, was welcomed by Dr. Csaba Gyuricza at the Royal Palace of Gödöllő. During the meeting, the Rector of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE) presented the structure and operations of MATE, while also discussing the university’s relations with Africa.

​​​​The visit provided an opportunity to explore potential cooperation between the two countries and their universities in the fields of agriculture, research, and higher education. At the meeting, which was attended by prominent figures such as István Jakab, Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly, and Dr. István Szabó, Vice Rector for Education and International Affairs at MATE, Dr. Gyuricza offered a detailed overview of MATE’s structure, operations, and its established partnerships with African nations.

He emphasized MATE’s commitment to international collaborations. Dr. Tulia Ackson suggested the possibility of cooperation between MATE and Tanzania’s Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), with a particular focus on researcher and faculty exchange programs. Both parties agreed that MATE’s agricultural expertise and Hungary’s experience in addressing climate change could prove valuable and beneficial, not only for Tanzania but for the entire region.

The discussions also addressed key agricultural challenges that significantly contribute to food shortages, as well as opportunities to improve self-sufficiency. Dr. Tulia Ackson highlighted the critical importance of food security in the United Republic of Tanzania, particularly stressing the need to reduce post-harvest losses.

​​​​​Among the future directions for collaboration, the development of joint training programs was proposed, which would strengthen ties between the two universities and raise the quality of agricultural education. In addition, based on MATE’s experience with demo farm projects in Kenya and Chad, Rector Dr. Gyuricza suggested that a similar initiative could be realized in Tanzania. This would contribute to the introduction of agricultural innovations and sustainable farming practices.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Tanzanian delegation toured the exhibitions at the Royal Palace of Gödöllő, offering a glimpse into Hungary’s cultural and historical heritage and further reinforcing the ties between the two countries.