Interview with Dr. Bruno van Pottelsberghe, Rector, Corvinus University

20 May Interview with Dr. Bruno van Pottelsberghe, Rector, Corvinus University

Can you share your education, career background and what brought you to Corvinus University?

I am originally from Belgium, but I have had a very international upbringing and career. I spent most of my youth in what was then Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo. I studied economics in Belgium and completed my PhD in Brussels, with part of it in Japan, where I was a visiting researcher at the Ministry of Industry and Trade. I also spent time at Columbia Business School in New York. Before finishing my PhD, I joined the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris. I have alternated between academic and non-academic roles: after two years at the OECD, I returned to university as professor and chair of innovation, the first industry-funded chair at my institution. I later served as chief economist at the European Patent Office in Munich and then returned to academia as dean of the Solvay Brussels School at Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), a role I held for over six years.

After a brief break and a second term as dean, I decided to take on a new challenge and joined Corvinus University. Coming to Corvinus was a natural decision. With a strong international background, my wife and I saw it as a great opportunity to offer our children a broader multicultural experience beyond Belgium, Macedonia and Croatia. We were both open to this kind of move. Corvinus invited me to take on a role similar to what I had done at Solvay Brussels School and ULB, and I felt I could contribute meaningfully to the university’s transformation. Despite differences in governance and systems, I was confident my experience could support the change. My family loves Budapest: it’s safe, cosmopolitan, full of history, great food and beautiful architecture. It’s truly a wonderful place to live.

From your global experience in higher education, how do you see the sector in Hungary and what role does Corvinus University play in it?

Budapest attracts a vibrant mix of tourists, students and professionals from around the world. Corvinus stands out as a national flagship university, especially in business, economics, political and social sciences and the humanities. We consistently attract the country’s top students — our incoming class has the highest average score on the national high school exam. This academic excellence, combined with an active student life and central Budapest location, makes Corvinus highly appealing.

Our historical and modern facilities, strong corporate partnerships and vast alumni network across public and private sectors further reinforce our position as a leading institution.

How important are international students to the university and are there limits on how many local and international students you admit each year?

We currently have around 1,700 international students out of 8,000 — about 20%. We welcome hundreds of exchange students each year and send many abroad. In fields like economics, business and political science, exposure to different cultures and perspectives is essential. While the majority of our students are Hungarian, our goal is to reach 30-35% international students, maintaining a strong international dimension while continuing to serve our national and local communities. As a university based in the heart of Budapest, it’s important we fulfill both our educational and social missions.

We are part of the CEMS network, which includes one top university per country. Through this, we exchange over 40 students annually. We also have double degree programs, currently with two German universities and we are working to expand these opportunities. In addition, we host around 100 US students through study abroad programs. Unlike traditional exchange, they pay tuition and stay for up to four semesters — offering them a unique and immersive experience. We have several strong exchange partnerships with US universities. Some are bilateral, while others involve semester-long or intensive programs. We currently work closely with four or five institutions and plan to expand these collaborations further.

The university has changed a lot recently and you have played a key role. What challenges did you face early on, how did you overcome them and how do you see the university now?

I started in September and the university’s model is quite unique in Europe. Corvinus transitioned from a fully state-funded institution to a privately managed foundation model. The foundation, funded through government stakes in two companies, covers tuition for about 80% of Hungarian students. Tuition remains affordable — €4,000–5,000 per year for bachelor’s and €6,000–7,000 for master’s programs. We have recently decided to extend 10–15% of these scholarships to international students, showing our commitment to internationalization. Over time, we plan to gradually increase tuition to reinvest in research and education quality.

Have you seen any initiatives from the government to support higher education in action? Where do you think the government could do more to help and improve?

Although now a private university, Corvinus still operates under national academic regulations for bachelor’s and master’s programs. We benefit from four key types of government support. First, the Stipendium Hungaricum provides scholarships for international students, especially from Eastern Europe and Latin America. We hosted 900 students under this program last year and expect around 1,000 this year. Second, PhD programs and research are state-funded based on activity and output. Third, we actively apply for national research grants. Lastly, the Pannonia Scholarship supports our outgoing exchange students, helping them gain international experience.

Can you tell us about your internship programs that help students transition into the workforce during and after their studies?

We have increasingly integrated credited internships and many students, especially from the third year of the bachelor’s onward, work part-time while studying. This is also common at the master’s level. We are strongly connected with industry, with 17 strategic partners like Mastercard and Allianz and several more in negotiation. While alumni engagement hasn’t been a tradition here, we have started to change that. A dedicated team member is reconnecting alumni with the university, building pride and communication, with plans to deepen their involvement over time.

What are your goals during your time here and where do you see the university in the next 5 to 10 years?

I was recruited with four main goals: attract more international students and faculty, earn all key international accreditations (AACSB, AMBA) and strengthen research-focused faculty. We are currently revising our strategic plan with the ambition for Corvinus to move from a national champion to a recognized player in the European league. While our domestic reputation is strong, we aim for greater international impact through new branding, more exchanges and expanded double degree programs. We also prioritize hiring faculty who excel in both teaching and research, as universities are unique places to innovate and create new opportunities.

We are rapidly expanding corporate partnerships through our new ‘bridge strategy,’ which aims to transform Corvinus from a local to an international champion and connect East and West. The strategy has four pillars: Multidisciplinarity (maintaining strength in economics, business, social and political sciences), internationalization, equity and social impact (supporting talented students from less wealthy backgrounds) and research. Upcoming highlights include our first summer school on using AI for sustainable development in Budapest this July, targeting 200 students next year, and a business and society symposium with a VIP dinner at the end of May to engage corporate and institutional leaders.

What is your final message?

If you want a unique, top-quality education, consider joining us. Our diploma is highly recognized and AACSB-accredited. Located in the heart of Budapest, a city ranked 4th best worldwide for students, we offer a rich cultural experience at the crossroads of East and West — ideal for economics, business and political science studies. Bachelor’s tuition is around €5,000–6,000 per year, with living costs under €10,000 annually. It’s a fantastic opportunity to grow and learn in the center of Europe.