A special cultural event titled Nations on Stage was held on Tuesday at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Debrecen. International students prepared musical and dance performances and presented their countries at colorful stands. Even the dean of the faculty took the stage, performing with a Hungarian folk music band.
Nearly 80 people registered for the first-ever Nations on Stage. The organizers aimed to create an event where international students of the Faculty of Engineering could come together on one stage, as one community, to celebrate diversity, talent, and the world’s various cultures.
“This week is Drawing Week at the Faculty of Engineering, which means there are no regular classes—students work on or complete their semester projects. We noticed that our international students tend to feel a bit isolated during this period, so we thought we’d organize a day for them to present their national traditions and cultural values. We want them to feel at home here,” explained Dean Géza Husi.
The event opened with a performance by the four-member Szatmár Banda, offering a taste of Hungarian folk music, featuring the dean himself on clarinet.
Students from different countries mainly presented musical and dance performances. Ana Cristina Marcial Pimentel performed traditional Mexican dances, followed by India’s Hena Ramchandani, who showcased Indian dances that tell stories through movement, without words. Abdelrahman Islam Azmi Thabet from Egypt gave a short speech on culture, identity, and understanding among nations. He was followed by Catherine Mbinya Mula from Kenya, who captivated the audience with her singing, and the event concluded with two dancers from the Szatmár Banda.
Many participants wore traditional costumes and brought food, artifacts, and posters representing their home countries.
Dean Géza Husi has already confirmed that Nations on Stage will be held again in the coming years at the Faculty of Engineering.
Currently, the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Debrecen has 2,548 Hungarian and 820 international students.
(unideb.hu)
