Debrecen4U January 16, 2026

Minister of Culture and Innovation Holds Student Forum in Debrecen

An economic miracle is taking shape in Debrecen, as stated by Balázs Hankó at the forum titled “Ask the Minister.” This time, the heads of the relevant ministry were asked questions by students of the vocational training center. At the event, the Minister of Culture and Innovation said that vocational training in Debrecen is exemplary, and they would like to extend this model nationwide. In the city, out of more than ten thousand students enrolled in vocational education, 2,500 are already participating in dual training programs. This points to close cooperation between the vocational training center and companies.

“How can the gap between curricular requirements and real workplace expectations be reduced even further?” This was one of the questions raised at the latest Debrecen stop of “Ask the Minister!”. Last year, the head of the Ministry of Culture and Innovation held a forum for students of the University of Debrecen; this time, it was organized for students of the vocational training center. The students were able to ask the minister both personal and professional questions.

“I felt very good at today’s event. I think conversations like these are very important, so that we can find out what ministers think about our situation,” said Csilla Papp, a student at the Debrecen Vocational Training Center’s Bethlen Gábor Technical School of Economics and Dormitory. Among the 11 schools of the Debrecen Vocational Training Center, Mechwart was named the best technical school of last year, while Bethlen finished in 8th place on the national ranking list of institutions providing vocational education. “We became the best technical school in the country. I think this is equally the merit of the instructors, the teachers, and the students, since over the past years we have achieved many successful competition results,” pointed out József Boros, a student of the Debrecen Vocational Training Center’s András Mechwart Technical School of Mechanical Engineering and Informatics.

At the event it was said that within the European Union, Hungarian vocational education currently ranks third, but in the future they would like to achieve first place. To do this, it is necessary for students in vocational training to also participate in mental and cultural programs. But this is not the only goal. “We want the current ratio, where 6 out of 10 choose vocational training, to become 7 out of 10 and then 8 out of 10. That is, we want to extend the Debrecen model nationwide, because this is what will make young people successful, and this is what will make the Hungarian nation successful. These are the major goals, and alongside these major goals we are here in Debrecen precisely to answer students’ questions. It was a very good forum,” emphasized Balázs Hankó, Minister of Culture and Innovation.

Upcoming investments will also contribute significantly to the development of vocational training in the county seat of Hajdú-Bihar, as discussed by Deputy Mayor Lajos Barcsa. He emphasized that in Debrecen, three educational institutions of the Debrecen Vocational Training Center will soon be renovated, and a dormitory will also be built. “In exactly one week, in this very school where we are now, the deadline for submitting bids for the complete renovation of Beregszászi will expire. We want to carry out a full interior renovation here, including the development of the sports courtyard and the renovation of the swimming pool. In addition, the renovation of Brassai is also on the agenda,” highlighted Deputy Mayor Lajos Barcsa. Furthermore, the Mechwart school building will also be renewed, and according to the plans, a 250-bed dormitory will be built next to it.

Altogether, these investments will cost approximately 60 billion forints.

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu