FISU Student Committee gathers in Budapest

The FISU Student Committee held its first in-person meeting of the current mandate in the vibrant city of Budapest, marking a key milestone in its work plan.

Hosted with the support of the Hungarian University Sports Federation (MEFS), the event brought together committee members for a rich and productive programme combining strategic and fruitful discussions, and cultural exchange.

The meeting opened with welcome speeches from distinguished guests, including the FISU President Leonz Eder, MEFS President Lajos Mocsai, and MEFS Secretary General Peter Juhasz, who were all present to show their strong support for student representation.

A major focus of the meeting was on progress reports from the committee’s working groups. Members presented their achievements so far, discussed key challenges, and brainstormed on the next steps. These sessions combined group work and presentations, encouraging active participation and international collaboration.

Among the working groups, the International Day of University Sport 2025 was actively discussed, with members sharing ideas to make this celebration more impactful, inclusive, and visible globally. They decided to hold a roundtable, and are now working on organising this online discussion that will include student-athletes and NUSF presidents. During the breaks of this roundtable, an activity called “Mind the Gap” will be hosted by the members, who are currently developing its content and format.

The committee also explored its activities planned for the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games. They decided to implement a project inspired by the winning student project from the Zagreb 2024 FISU World Forum initially called “FISU Lounge”. This FISU Student Booth will be located at the Neighbourhood in Messe Essen from 17-26 July. During the gathering in Budapest, members worked in groups to shape the booth’s concrete and promotional activities, which will include a pins party, a “Guess the Medal” game, a FISU quiz, a memory game, and more. Don’t forget to come and say hello to our members during the next FISU Games, it’ll be a great opportunity to connect, share experiences, and enjoy a vibrant moment of cultural exchange!!

Lastly, other brainstorming sessions and collaborative planning took place around the student-led activities for the Östersund 2026 FISU World Forum. The members have plenty of work ahead, but the atmosphere throughout the meeting remained positive and full of enthusiasm!

“We are so lucky to be able to meet in-person, it helps a lot with the connections in general and makes the conversations easier than online”, said Student Committee member Michal Cmelik. “We also discover that some people can be shy behind a screen, but totally the opposite in real life!”

Beyond the formal sessions, the gathering was enriched by a thoughtfully curated cultural programme. A night cruise along the Danube River offered participants a unique perspective on the host city and a chance to continue exchanging ideas in a relaxed, informal setting. Moments like these underscored the unique value of in-person experiences: sharing culture, building friendships, and creating memories that strengthen teamwork across borders.

This meeting marked more than just a milestone in the Student Committee’s calendar, it reaffirmed the essential role of human connection in international student sport.

“The members of the Student Committee are always so creative and innovative”, smiled FISU President Leonz Eder. “It was all the more wonderful and important for me to be able to see them working face-to-face again after such a long time. The results of their discussions and group work will positively reinforce FISU’s presence in the student community and during the Games”

FISU President Leonz Eder (left) was present for part of the Student Committee’s meeting, where he had the opportunity to observe the committee’s dynamic in action and engage with its members. His visit underscored FISU’s commitment to student representation and inclusion in decision-making processes. During his time in Budapest, President Eder also held a series of meetings, including one with Balázs Fürjes (middle), IOC Member from Hungary, to discuss future collaboration and the shared vision for university sport development.

All FISU is very grateful to MEFS, particularly to Ágnes Ancic-Valkai – FISU Student Committee Chair, FISU Executive Committee Member, and Director of International Relations at MEFS – for organising such nice meetings and for hosting us in her city.

Written by Virginie Rochat