Application

Application

2024 Summary

Neighborhood Dialogues is an academy that brings together students and experts from the European region with the aim to create a multicultural atmosphere for open dialogues, to create a platform for regional cooperation among generations and to enhance valuable discussions on the current international happenings.

The international conference series was held in Budapest between 09-11 May 2024, under the title "What’s Next for Europe?", with the motto "Creating a discussion on Europe."

The four-day meeting focused on Predictive Planning, a seminar series about forecasting events and processes in advance, with an emphasis on effective planning strategies. In addition to these insightful sessions, several panel discussions examined the key challenges shaping Europe’s future. One of the major topics explored the future of the battery industry, where experts from various sectors discussed its role in Europe's economic landscape, with Péter Kaderják, State Secretary for Energy and Climate Policy, offering his insights on energy transition and sustainability. Another crucial debate centered on the pathways to EU membership, particularly regarding candidate countries such as Ukraine, Serbia, and Moldova. Diplomats, policymakers, and academics contributed to the discussion, including Liliana Smiech, General Director for International Affairs at the University of Public Service, who shared perspectives on the challenges and opportunities these nations face on their European integration journey. The impact of recent crises on Europe’s global standing was also a key theme. A panel on whether Europe’s competitiveness has been permanently affected by war and epidemics featured voices from the worlds of business, economics, and academia, including Dr. Robert Obermaier, university professor and Chair for Business Administration with a focus on Accounting and Control at the University of Passau. Meanwhile, the evolving role of major energy corporations in Central and Eastern Europe was discussed in a session on MOL’s growth as a regional giant, where industry leaders, including Sverla Viktor, Group Strategy & Sustainability Director at MOL Group, reflected on the company’s expansion and sustainability efforts. Beyond high-quality presentations, the conference offered training and workshops, where students and experts, such as Rodrigo Ballester, collaborated to develop future scenarios for the European Union.

To foster networking and connections, the program included various community activities, such as:

  • Folk Dance House & Hungaricum Club, providing an immersive cultural experience.
  • Wine tasting, creating a relaxed social setting for participants.
  • A visit to the MOL Campus, the tallest building in Budapest and home to one of the region’s largest oil companies.

Dear Future Participant!

Welcome to the application procedure to the Neighborhood Dialogues 2024! This year the event will be held on May 9-11.

In the year of the European Parliament elections and the EU’s institutional transitions, we have to take a look at Europe’s main challenges. What would be a better place for it than Budapest, the capital city of Hungary, which will hold the EU Council’s presidency in the second half of 2024?

Our goal is to create a discussion under the title “What's Next for Europe?” on Europe's main challenges, such as demography, competitiveness, and geopolitical questions.

Neighborhood Dialogues is a prestigious program organized by the students of MCC since 2015, In previous years, the event featured more than 100 foreign and Hungarian lecturers and attracted over 250 students from around the world. The conference brings together students from diverse disciplines, including law, business, economics, political science, medical studies, and many more. The aim of the conference is on interactive dialogue and debate.

Application fee includes participation in the conference, accommodation in a hotel room, and at least 3 meals a day.

- Early Bird Fee (Until January 14): 50 Euro

- Regular Fee (After January 14): 60 Euro

Please note: Application fees are non-refundable in case of cancellation.

For the admission procedure applicants are required to submit a one-page motivational letter, which sould include a short introduction and field of interest. Furthermore, applicants will have a 10-minute online interview as part of the admission process.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any further queries or questions! Our e-mail address is neighbourhooddialogues@mcc.hu

Let’s create a discussion on Europe.

Looking forward meeting you, Neighborhood Dialogues Organizing Team