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Her dedication, openness, and active community-building efforts earned recognition this year at the National Meeting of International Coordinators 2025, where she received the Coordinator Award for her work with the Stipendium Hungaricum and Hungarian Diaspora Scholarship programs, in the “Emerging Excellence” category - and she speaks about her work with the same enthusiasm she brings to supporting her students every day.

Nikolett ÁDER Emerging Excellence” Award-Winning International Coordinator (l) & Richárd BODROGI, Director-General, Tempus Public Foundation (TPF) (r)

Could you introduce your role and your responsibilities in supporting international students?

Nikolett ÁDER "Emerging Excellence” Award-Winning International Coordinator

As we are a small institution, my duties are very diverse. I coordinate the international admission process, the Stipendium Hungaricum and Diaspora Scholarship programs, support student integration, and organize community-building and team-building programs for them. In essence, I aim to support them in their university life from the moment they apply until they receive their diploma.

What motivated you to start working with international students?

I am a qualified Hungarian–English secondary school teacher, so this age group has always been close to my heart - as have different cultures. I previously worked in student representation, then as an administrator in a student office, and after a short break from academia I realized that the university environment is where I truly feel at home. When I learned about this position, I immediately felt that working with international students would bring challenge, professional growth, and joy.

You initiated community events for students. Could you share a memorable moment from a program or activity that had a particularly strong impact on the international students?

I would highlight our first team-building event. I was quite nervous about how many students would attend because I had heard that similar initiatives had not been very successful in the past. In the end, however, more than half of the international students took part. We cooked together in a cauldron, held a quiz about Hungary, and played a traditional outdoor game. You could see how liberated they felt and how much they appreciated finally having an opportunity to experience a sense of belonging to the university in a relaxed, communal setting. The food we cooked together disappeared in minutes, and many students told me how meaningful the experience was - and that they wanted more events like this.

How do you think art and cultural exchange enrich international students’ experiences at your university?

Art and dance are shared languages that connect our diverse community. We currently have 62 international students from 20 different nationalities — from East Asia to South America. While it’s natural that many first gravitate toward peers from their own cultural background, art brings them together: they walk the same artistic path and work toward the same goals. Their shared work, cultural diversity, and mutual passion all enrich their experiences and create a community where differences become values.

What makes your university special in the eyes of international students?

Our institution is unique in many ways. Although we are a university, due to the short career span of dance students, training in the dance performance program can begin as early as age 10 - which means many of our international students also join us at a very young age. It is already unusual to study dance within university frameworks. Our programs award university degrees and provide professional dance training. In addition to their main specialization - which for most international students is classical ballet — they are introduced to as many dance styles as possible, from modern dance to ballroom and Hungarian folk dance. Many students consider this professional diversity and the family-like community to be the university’s greatest appeal.

Have you faced any challenges while supporting international students? How did you handle them?

Because I work with people, I encounter new - and sometimes challenging - situations almost daily: cultural differences, communication difficulties, personal issues. I try to approach every case with patience and find the safest and fastest solution for the student. Openness, consistency, and empathy are my most important tools.

How do you manage your responsibilities while staying motivated and inspired each day?

I find working with our students incredibly inspiring. Seeing their determination and how hard they work toward their goals every day is a huge motivation. I share in their excitement over their achievements, and I try to support them through the more difficult moments as well. This makes me feel that — even if only a little — I can be part of their journey. This sense of connection means a lot to me. The many positive feedback I receive from students and from the university leadership also reassure me that what I do truly matters.

What achievement or moment are you most proud of in your work as a coordinator?

I’m most proud that since I started working at the university, we have managed to double the number of international students, who now make up nearly 10% of our institution’s total student body. I believe this is partly due to the strong support I provide during the admission and pre-enrolment period, helping them feel from the very first moment that they are entering an accepting and attentive environment.

Photos: Roland SZAMLER

Last modified: 20-01-2026