The
long-standing professional cooperation of nearly a decade between the
Institute of Architecture of the Faculty of Engineering and Information
Technology of the University of Pécs (UP FEIT) and the Beihai University
of Art and Design (BUAD), China, continues through short-term
educational programs, including an international architectural course to
be held this spring, newly identified joint research themes, and
researcher exchange initiatives. The two institutions recently agreed on
the details during a visit by a BUAD delegation to Pécs.

On this
occasion, Zheng Nianyi, President of BUAD, who has been closely
involved in the partnership since its inception, received the Doctor
Honoris Causa title from the University of Pécs. Over the years, the
collaboration has grown into a strategic partnership: students from the
Chinese university regularly enrol in programs in Pécs, and today,
architects who obtained their PhD degrees at the Marcel Breuer Doctoral
School of UP FEIT are already working in Beihai.

The cooperation
between the two institutions dates back to 2016, when the founders of
the newly established Beihai University of Art and Design approached the
Institute of Architecture at UP FEIT to establish international
relations. As a result of successful negotiations, a so-called “green
corridor” was created: based on equivalency agreements, Chinese students
are able to join architectural and interior design programs in Pécs at
multiple entry points.

“This required, and still requires, that
we carefully assess applicants’ preparedness; therefore, candidates from
Beihai are admitted through a multi-stage selection process. At the
beginning of the cooperation, 14 students participated in this ‘green
corridor,’ all of whom returned home with master’s degrees issued by our
Faculty. The COVID-19 pandemic temporarily halted the process for two
or three years, but rebuilding began in a new format in 2023. We now
deliver intensive, two-week short-term courses with essential content in
Beihai, allowing us to engage with larger groups of students in a more
focused way. These joint programs are characterised by their intensive
format and creative approach,” says Prof. Dr. Gabriella Medvegy, Dean of
UP FEIT.

In addition to exposure to European perspectives, ways
of thinking, and visual culture, which are particularly appealing to
Chinese students, the programmes also offer valuable opportunities to
practice English. Faculty members on both sides benefit from gaining
insight
into each other’s teaching methodologies. Alongside the two
professional subjects previously taught, a technical English course was
introduced last year, supported by digital learning materials developed
in Pécs, which have been met with great success.

Since 2023, the
cooperation has become increasingly dynamic. Faculty members from Beihai
visit UP FEIT several times each year to discuss teaching methodologies
and professional topics, as well as to refine the framework and focus
of the collaboration. Each year, professional dialogue is organised
around a central theme that emphasises the value of international
cultural diversity and explores its implications across higher
education, architecture, and design. The aim is to deepen mutual
understanding between the two institutions.

The quality of this
professional collaboration is also reflected in BUAD’s international
achievements: in 2025, the university received an award in Belgium in a
UNESCO-initiated competition showcasing the heritage and innovations of
the global world.

The cooperation between the two universities
will continue this spring with a new joint program, while preparations
are underway to expand into broader educational and research
collaboration, with a shared creative arts context as a key focus area.

“The
architectural profession is inherently linked to mobility, global
perspective, and the acquisition of practical experience. Colleagues who
have the opportunity to participate in our programmes in China gain not
only professional knowledge but are also enriched in related fields
such as design, visual communication, and digital graphics. At the same
time, intercultural experiences significantly enhance educators'
professional depth, tolerance, and communication skills. Overall, these
elements have been among the driving forces behind our commitment to
internationalisation: to gain complex experiences such as those arising
from our partnership with Beihai, to advance our professional expertise,
and to benefit from reciprocal knowledge transfer. Students coming to
Pécs also bring new perspectives, ways of thinking, and cultural
backgrounds different from our own, which further enrich architectural
education in Pécs,” added Gabriella Medvegy.