Professional Development Day for students of the ‘International Relations’ programme at the Hungarian Embassy in Ukraine
Students on the ‘International Relations’ programme at the Department of International Relations and Diplomacy of the B. Havrylyshyn Institute of International Relations of WUNU, took part in a careers day held at the Hungarian Embassy in Ukraine (Kyiv). The event served as an important component of the students’ practical training and provided a platform for them to gain first-hand knowledge of the inner workings of a diplomatic mission.
As part of the programme, students presented their own analytical work on topical issues in international relations, including energy security in Central and Eastern Europe, the role of cultural diplomacy in the development of Ukrainian-Hungarian relations, humanitarian cooperation under martial law, and digital diplomacy as a modern foreign policy tool.
The students were particularly interested in the meeting with Antal Heizer, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Hungary to Ukraine, who shared his professional experience and spoke about the key aspects of diplomatic work, the role of an ambassador in shaping and implementing a country’s foreign policy, as well as the specific challenges faced by diplomatic missions in the context of contemporary international challenges.
Equally valuable was the interaction with representatives of the diplomatic service, who shared their practical experience regarding the operation of diplomatic mail and the security of diplomatic missions, and also conducted a practical training session on diplomatic protocol and etiquette, during which students familiarised themselves with the key rules and the specifics of their application in professional practice.
Through their participation in the career day, the students deepened their understanding of the practical aspects of diplomatic work, acquired new professional skills, and gained valuable experience in professional communication within an international setting.
The event concluded with the presentation of certificates and informal discussions, which helped to strengthen academic and professional ties between West Ukrainian National University and the Hungarian Embassy in Ukraine.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Honorary Consulate of Hungary in the Ternopil region for its assistance in organising this important practical event, and to Honorary Consul Tetiana Chubak for her support, openness to cooperation and significant contribution to providing opportunities for the professional development of students on the ‘International Relations’ programme.
It is precisely through such collaboration that real opportunities are created to combine theoretical training with practical experience, broaden young people’s professional horizons, and nurture a new generation of specialists in the field of international relations and diplomacy.
