Today's Edition
ESZTERGOM, HUNGARY (ALETIHAD)
In the quiet town of Esztergom, Hungary's spiritual and cultural capital, the Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC) Festival 2025 drew a crowd far larger than the town itself – welcoming over 50,000 visitors for three days of dialogue and discussions on topics of paramount importance in various sectors.
More than just a summer gathering, the fifth edition of the MCC Festival has cemented its place as Central Europe's leading intellectual forum for the next generation.
With over 150 international speakers – including tech visionary Peter Thiel, British author Douglas Murray, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán – the event tackled pressing global themes such as the future of artificial intelligence, shifting geopolitical dynamics, and the evolving role of national identity in a connected world.
Honing Skills for a Global Environment
In an interview with Aletihad, Dr. Zoltán Szalai, Director General of the MCC, said that the festival combines intellectual, cultural, and public life content through a series of lectures, conversations, and debates, covering politics and economy to business, lifestyle, and culture.
"The festival is organised mainly for the young generation. So, MCC is an institution which is supporting talented young individuals from the age of 10 until the end of their PhD studies. We are very happy that tens of thousands of young people are visiting, attending, asking questions, and debating," Dr. Szalai said.
The event featured more than 100 professional lectures, 60 musical performances, and 100 exhibitors.
With more than 30 centres spread across Europe, the MCC organises events focused on youth. The festival, in particular, serves as a major "networking event for everybody interested in the region, and the thoughts and vision of the MCC", which is dedicated to developing the skills and talents of young people, he said.
The MCC is named after Mathias Corvinus, one of Hungary's most renowned kings of the 15th century – a period marked by prosperity and the introduction of Renaissance ideas and the establishment of Hungary as a prominent intellectual hub.
The foundation offers diverse programmes and activities that complement regular curriculum of Hungarian schools and universities, while providing additional learning opportunities.
Presenting the concept of the MCC to the UAE is also important, he said, adding that as a foundation with about 10,000 students from all over the region, the organisation represents a unique initiative.
"Our students go to their regular secondary and tertiary education, and in addition to that, we try to select the best 5% from each cohort of young people, and we give them extra education, extra networks, extra skills – and I think a very strong, good community – where they understand where they are, who they are, where they come from, and how they can be successful in a global environment."
Cross-cultural Collaboration
The MCC is also planning to forge academic partnerships with the UAE, the wider Arab world, and beyond.
"We very much plan to come to the Arab world, especially to the UAE. Last year, I had the opportunity to visit Abu Dhabi and Dubai, where we started the initial negotiations. I am very thankful to the UAE Embassy here in Budapest for their strong support for this endeavour. We plan to return this fall to continue the negotiations."
Dr. Szalai also expressed hope to establish a facility similar to the think tank and educational centre currently operating in Brussels.
Elaborating on cross-cultural collaboration, Dr. Szalai said that the UAE's achievements in the international arena are remarkable. In this context, fostering academic partnerships and providing students with personal and professional experiences in the UAE are essential. Such collaborations also pave the way for entrepreneurial ventures between the UAE and Hungary.
The MCC Director General noted that Hungary seeks to build strong connections with the wider world – not only in the academic realm, but also in the trade and economic fields.
"Hungary is a very small country with a population of 9.5 million. Being a landlocked country, it's crucial for us to maintain strong trade and economic connections – not only with the West and as a member of the European Union but also with Asia and the Middle East, and particularly the UAE," he said.
He highlighted the recent high-level visits and negotiations between the UAE and Hungary, which underscore the strong cultural, political, and economic ties and their ongoing development. The MCC is eager to be part of this process, he added.
Looking ahead to MCC Festival 2026, plans are already underway to introduce new topics and expand its reach to the Arab world, especially the UAE, Dr. Szalai said.
"We were talking about opening to new topics. We would like to be much more open to the Arab world – to invite people from Arab countries, especially from the UAE. So I think next year we will have more and more visits from your country and from your region."
