Author: schneider.richard

Between 8 and 13 June 2026, Óbuda University hosted a three-member delegation from the Faculty of Military Science of Stellenbosch University, South Africa, as part of the ongoing effort to further strengthen the long-standing academic partnership between the two institutions established in 2019. The delegation consisted of Capt. (Navy) Graeme Wesley Plint, Lt. Col. Audrey Rozanne Lawrance, researcher, and Dr. Hendrick Snyders, senior researcher. The visit was coordinated by Prof. János Besenyő, Head of the Africa Research Institute at Óbuda University.

During the first day of the professional programme, the delegation visited the Donát Bánki Faculty of Mechanical and Safety Engineering, where they were welcomed by Dean Dr. habil. Tibor Farkas. The guests received comprehensive information about the faculty’s educational and research activities, the operation of the Innovation Parks, and the programmes offered by the Doctoral School on Safety and Security Sciences. Members of the South African delegation also delivered presentations on their respective research fields to faculty members.

On the second day, the visitors explored Óbuda University’s robotics laboratories under the guidance of Vice-Rector Professor Péter Galambos. They also attended a university presentation hosted by Vice-Rector Professor Zoltán Rajnai, which provided an overview of the institution’s English-language programmes, international mobility opportunities, and doctoral schools. In an online session, Péter Balogh introduced the objectives and opportunities associated with the Diana programme. The campus tour and subsequent informal discussions offered further opportunities to identify areas for future collaboration.

The partners also reviewed the achievements of their cooperation over recent years and discussed concrete plans for future joint initiatives. Since 2019, the partnership between Stellenbosch University and Óbuda University has resulted in the organisation of seven international conferences, the publication of two academic books, and collaborative editorial work supporting Scientia Militaria and the Journal of Central and Eastern European African Studies (JCEEAS). Both institutions expressed their commitment to expanding cooperation in the fields of security studies, military sciences, and international research projects.

The professional programme was complemented by cultural activities, allowing the South African guests to gain insight into Hungary’s rich historical and cultural heritage, including a visit to the town of Szentendre. The visit further strengthened the scientific and cultural ties between the two universities and laid the foundation for future successful collaborative initiatives within this strategic international partnership.

The Belgrade Security and Intelligence Forum II (BSIF 2026) was held on 27–28 March 2026 in Belgrade, organized by the Institute for National and International Security (INIS). The closed-door professional event brought together selected security and intelligence experts, diplomats, academics, and senior military and law enforcement professionals.

Key topics of the Forum included hybrid threats, cognitive warfare, the security applications of artificial intelligence, terrorism in the digital domain, and the security implications of migration. Regional discussions focused on the South-East Mediterranean, the Indo-Pacific, Eastern Europe, and the current situation in Iran.

BSIF 2026, which featured presentations by ambassadors, high-ranking military officials, and internationally recognized scholars, was organized in broad cooperation with international institutional partners. These included the Center for Conflict Prevention and Early Warning (Romania); the University of Public and Individual Security “Apeiron” (Poland); the Faculty of Security in Skopje (North Macedonia); the Zagreb Security Forum (Croatia); the International Security and Partnership Centre (Ukraine); Beopolis University (Serbia); the Faculty for Security and Protection (FSP) and other academic institutions from the Western Balkans; the Research Institute for European and American Studies (Greece); Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Italy); and the Krakow Security Forum (Poland). Óbuda University was represented by Prof. Dr. János Besenyő, Head of the Africa Research Institute.

Speakers – BSIF 2026

• Prof. Dr. Darko Trifunović – Director of the Institute for National and International Security (INIS), Serbia
• H.E. Dr. Oleksandr Lytvynenko – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Serbia
• Prof. Dr. Vladimir Tomašević – Rector, Beopolis University, Serbia
• Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Mario Greco – Executive Director, Global Foresight Strategies – Europe; former NATO official, Italy
• Rear Admiral (Ret.) Massimo Esposito – General Manager, AFCEA Europe; former NATO official, Italy
• Prof. Dr. Iulian Chifu – President, Center for Conflict Prevention and Early Warning; Professor, National Defence University / SNSPA, Romania
• Prof. Dr. Jowanka Jakubek-Lalik – Associate Professor of Law, University of Warsaw, Poland
• Representative of the Embassy of Israel in Serbia – Diplomatic representative
• Prof. Dr. Marco Lombardi – Full Professor, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore; Director, ITSTIME Research Center, Italy
• Prof. Dr. John M. Nomikos – Director, Research Institute for European and American Studies (RIEAS), Greece
• Prof. Dr. Juliusz Piwowarski – Rector, University of Public and Individual Security “Apeiron”, Poland
• Prof. Dr. Jagannath Panda – Head, Stockholm Center for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs (ISDP); Senior Fellow, HCSS, Sweden/Netherlands
• Prof. Dr. Nikola Dujovski – Professor, Faculty of Security, Skopje; Head of Police Sciences Department, North Macedonia
• Prof. Dr. Igor Izhnin – Associate Professor, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Ukraine
• Prof. Dr. Aleksandar Ivanov – Full Professor, Faculty of Security, Skopje; Head of Research Center, North Macedonia
• Prof. Dr. János Besenyő – Professor, Óbuda University; Head of Africa Research Institute, Hungary
• Prof. Dr. Branislav Kováčik – Dean, Faculty of Political Science and International Relations, Matej Bel University, Slovakia
• Prof. Dr. Oliver Andonov – Professor of Security Studies, North Macedonia
• Prof. Dr. Jan Goldman – Professor, The Citadel; Editor-in-Chief, International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence, USA (video presentation)
• Prof. Dr. Gordan Akrap – Associate Professor, University of Zagreb; Vice-Rector, Croatian Defence Academy, Croatia
• Dr. Jean-Victor Maublanc – Professor of Public Law, France
• Research Fellow Rene D. Kanayama – Senior Researcher, ITSTIME, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy
• Prof. Dr. Marijana Musladin – Professor, University of Dubrovnik, Croatia
• Roško Marko – Researcher, Croatia
• Dr. Nikolina Hazdovac Bajić – Assistant Professor, Croatia
• Prof. Dr. Rastislav Kazanský – Professor, Matej Bel University, Slovakia
• Prof. Dr. Thomas Wegener Friis – Professor, University of Southern Denmark; Director, Center for Cold War Studies, Denmark
• Prof. Dr. George S. Oreku – Research Professor in Cyber Security & Information Systems, Tanzania
• Dr. Miad Nakhavali – Analyst of Middle Eastern Politics; Founder, Middle East Analitika

The Hungary–Africa Week was held for the third time, offering visitors the opportunity to attend exhibitions as well as cultural and scientific events. A particularly engaging program was the Education Day, where representatives of African and Hungarian higher education institutions met and shared their experiences with one another and with the audience. Among the speakers was Dr. Buyisile Ntaka, a researcher at the Africa Research Institute of Óbuda University and an associate professor at the Department of World Economy of Corvinus University of Budapest.

During the week, on 19 February, the 2nd Hungarian–African Rectors’ Conference took place at the Danubius Hotel Hungaria in Budapest. The event brought together leaders and lecturers from Hungarian and African universities, higher education experts, ministerial and university decision-makers, as well as representatives of various foundations and NGOs to discuss key issues related to higher education. At the Rectors’ Conference, the Rector of Óbuda University, Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács, was represented by Prof. Dr. János Besenyő, Director of the Africa Research Institute, who noted that the conference proved highly beneficial for the participants.

Further information is available on the event website: https://hungaryafricaweek.hu/about-the-event-2026/