The University of Pécs and the Israeli city of Modi’in may collaborate in the future in the areas of research programs, student and faculty exchange programs, as well as training in the natural sciences and cutting-edge technology. The Israeli ambassador to Hungary and an international expert from the Learning Cities program discussed these opportunities with the leadership of the University of Pécs. No concrete agreement has been reached yet, but the University of Pécs has received an invitation to visit the Israeli city, where plans are also underway to establish a new higher education institution.
Maja Kadosh, Ambassador of the State of Israel to Hungary, and Orna Mager, an international expert specializing in the “Learning Cities” initiative, visited the University of Pécs on September 23, 2026. The delegation was received by Adrián Fábián, Rector of the University of Pécs, and Norbert Sipos, Deputy Director of the university’s International Office, also participated in the meeting.
The meeting focused on developing ties between Israel and Pécs in the areas of higher education, research, and innovation. Among other things, the parties explored opportunities for cooperation in the fields of energy, natural sciences, engineering, and computer science. In addition to joint research, the discussion also covered student and faculty mobility, as well as the establishment of technological and startup partnerships.
Israeli universities are looking for new partners
According to a statement from the University of Pécs, Maja Kadosh emphasized at the meeting that Israel is actively seeking opportunities for new international collaborations in several fields of science. The ambassador particularly praised Pécs’s achievements in energy, the natural sciences, and engineering research.
Maja Kadosh also noted that cooperation between Israeli and certain European universities has become more difficult since October 7, 2023. In her view, Hungary’s role has become more important to Israeli higher education institutions in this situation. The Israeli side is therefore seeking partners that possess adequate research capacity, a network of international contacts, and a willingness to collaborate.
The University of Pécs’s international profile provides a solid foundation for establishing such a relationship. The university hosts approximately 6,000 international students, including 35 Israeli students currently enrolled. Although this is still a relatively small number, it represents existing personal and institutional ties that can serve as a foundation for further cooperation.
Modi’in would become a center for higher education and technology
One of the most important specific proposals raised at the meeting concerned the Israeli city of Modi’in-Maccabim-Re’ut. According to Orna Mager, the city would like to establish a campus for a renowned university, primarily in the fields of natural sciences and high technology.
The expert invited representatives from the University of Pécs to Modi’in so they could see firsthand how the city operates, learn about its development plans, and explore its technology companies and startup initiatives. The visit may also serve to lay the groundwork for future institutional cooperation.
No decision has yet been made regarding the exact role the University of Pécs might play in establishing the planned educational facility. No joint educational program, investment, financing arrangement, or implementation schedule has been announced. The current discussions can therefore be viewed primarily as an opportunity to establish contact and explore potential areas of collaboration.
At the same time, the negotiations could link the University of Pécs’s research and educational capabilities with an Israeli city that has been systematically developing its educational, innovation, and technology systems for some time.
The “learning city” model is not just about education
Modi’in has been a member of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities since 2016. In the development model of this town of nearly 100,000 residents, lifelong learning is not limited to school or university education. The program also fosters connections between employability, support for entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and the development of the local economy.
The city’s Learning City program places special emphasis on fostering an interest in the natural sciences, providing technology training for young people, and developing entrepreneurial skills. According to UNESCO, one of Modi’in’s initiatives encourages girls to study the natural sciences, while another program provides personalized assistance to residents seeking employment or a career change. The goal of this model is for the city’s educational institutions, communities, and economic actors to operate within a mutually reinforcing system.
This approach could also offer the University of Pécs several points of connection. In addition to traditional university degree programs, short-term professional programs, joint research projects, faculty collaborations, technology transfer, or even business development programs could be considered. However, these are merely potential avenues for now, and decisions regarding their specifics can only be made following further discussions.
A technology park and a new city center are shaping the innovation ecosystem
An important component of Modi’in’s economic landscape is the city’s technology park, which is home to high-tech startups, industrial manufacturing companies, offices, and firms that utilize environmentally friendly technologies. The municipality views the park as one of the key areas for the development of the local economy.
The city also announced plans for a new, mixed-use downtown area of approximately 1,300 dunams—roughly 130 hectares—to be completed in 2026. The long-term vision includes residential areas, workplaces, retail spaces, hotels, public institutions, a new train station, a hospital, and a university. The new district would connect the current city center with the technology park. The development is still in the planning stage, but it signals that Modi’in views education and innovation as one of the cornerstones of the city’s economic growth.
Programs that directly link higher education to the tech job market are already in place in this Israeli city. For example, the Google High-Tech School and Reichman University have launched training programs offering instruction in computer science and artificial intelligence for local participants. This shows that Modi’in is not merely seeking a future university location, but is already building the environment necessary for technology training and corporate partnerships.
Both the School of Engineering and Computer Science and the School of Law may be involved
During the meeting, Rector Adrián Fábián identified the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology and the Faculty of Political Science and Law at the University of Pécs as potential partners. The rector agreed to facilitate direct professional discussions between the Israeli delegation and the relevant faculties.
The involvement of the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology may be justified primarily due to research in the fields of information technology, energy, engineering, and technology. Future collaboration could include identifying joint research topics, organizing professional workshops, guest lecturer programs, student projects, or establishing partnerships with innovative companies.
The Faculty of Law’s involvement may become important due to the regulatory framework surrounding technological developments, data protection, artificial intelligence, intellectual property, the legal environment for startups, and the framework for international cooperation. The University of Pécs’s announcement did not elaborate on these potential topics, so the actual professional content will be determined through consultations between the relevant faculties and the Israeli partners.
It could also present an economic opportunity for Pécs
The impact of a lasting academic partnership between Pécs and Israel may extend beyond higher education. Joint research could lead to new international projects, grant funding, and corporate partnerships. Student and faculty mobility can strengthen Pécs’s international visibility, while startup and technology partnerships can open up new markets and professional networks for innovative businesses in the region.
From Baranya’s perspective, any form of cooperation that links local university expertise with high-value-added economic activity could be particularly important. International projects related to IT, energy, and engineering research can help retain researchers and young graduates in the region, as well as foster new corporate and investor relationships.
However, the economic impacts cannot yet be quantified. No investment amounts, new jobs, or specific joint projects were announced at the meeting. The first real milestone could be the Pécs delegation’s visit to Israel, followed by professional consultations among the relevant faculties, research groups, and technology stakeholders.
The September meeting, therefore, does not mark the conclusion of an existing collaboration, but rather the beginning of a new relationship. The coming period will determine whether this mutual interest will lead to an inter-institutional agreement, a joint research program, mobility cooperation, or Pécs’s participation in Modi’in’s higher education and technological development initiatives.
Sources:
- University of Pécs – A delegation from the Israeli Embassy Visited the University of Pécs
- University of Pécs – Summary of the Event in English
- UNESCO – Modi’in-Maccabim-Re’ut in the Global Network of Learning Cities
- Modi’in-Maccabim-Re’ut Municipality – Development Plan for the New City Center
- Modi’in-Maccabim-Re’ut Municipality – Technology Park and Economic Zones
- Modi’in-Maccabim-Re’ut Municipality – Google–Reichman High-Tech Training Program
