BUDAPEST, March 12. /Dunyo IA/.  Diplomatic-level discussions were held with Zsófia Steiner, International Relations Coordinator of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE), reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

The primary objective was to discuss the possibility of developing and implementing joint scientific competitions involving students from both countries.

According to Zsófia Steiner, as part of MATE's international cooperation and educational initiatives, the university, together with the Hungarian corporation “Bonafarm Group”, invites students from Uzbekistan and other countries to participate in the international student case competition “Anthropocene Case Competition”. This competition is dedicated to real-world corporate challenges in the agri-food sector and sustainable development.

Participation in the competition provides students with the opportunity to work on a real corporate task provided by “Bonafarm” gain practical experience in interdisciplinary and international teamwork, receive feedback and mentorship from academic experts and industry professionals, and develop key competencies such as problem-solving, structured thinking, presentation skills, and professional communication in an international environment.

The competition is held in three stages. The first stage (online qualification) runs from February 16 to March 8, 2026, during which teams submit materials for jury evaluation. The second stage (online presentations) will take place from March 23 to March 25, where teams that passed the first stage present more detailed solutions to the case. Based on the results of this stage, the top 12 teams will advance to the final.

The final stage (in-person competition) will be held from May 13 to May 15 at the MATE campus in Gödöllő, Hungary. The final is conducted in the format of an intensive 48-hour team challenge with expert support, stakeholder feedback and a final evaluation by the jury.

It is particularly noteworthy that for the final stage, MATE University covers all related expenses for the finalists, including travel, accommodation and meals. The winners will also receive tablets."

In this regard, the Hungarian university invites students from Tashkent State Agrarian University, as well as students from other higher education institutions in Uzbekistan specializing in the agri-food sector, sustainable development and related fields, to participate in the competition.

According to the competition requirements, each team must consist of three students and one academic mentor from their university. Following the two preliminary rounds, 12 finalists will be selected to proceed to the final stage.

For registration and detailed information, Uzbek universities may contact via email: casecompetition@uni-mate.hu. The contact person is Adrienn Varga-Tóth (Vargáné dr. Tóth Adrienn), a researcher at the Institute of Food Science and Technology, Department of Livestock Product and Food Preservation. Email: Toth.Adrienn@uni-mate.hu.

To stay updated with the latest information and competition news, it is also recommended to follow the official university page on Facebook.