Free courses, international knowledge network, community - The new academic year has started for the MCC University Program

Since 2018, the MCC University Program has been providing free, unique, interdisciplinary training and housing to talented students studying in Cluj Napoca. During the first semester of the academic year, students can choose from more than 60 courses, learn from renowned national and international speakers, participate in inspiring professional discussions, workshops and debates. In addition to professional programs, community-building is also central to the MCC: the organization embraces students' own initiatives, encourages joint leisure activities, provides career guidance and welcomes young graduates into a supportive alumni community.

Zsófia Csergő, a student of the University Program, opened the opening ceremony, followed by Zoltán Szalai, Director General of Mathias Covinus Collegium, who addressed the students. He said artificial intelligence, the IT knowledge explosion, gives us many opportunities and at least as many challenges, and the completely changing world order, the new types of challenges, also make life exciting and challenging for those leaving the walls of the institution. However, the years spent here will give you ammunition and you will be competing with each other during the academic year, but also as a community for the community. The talent is within you and the opportunity, access to knowledge, connections, care, and links to international knowledge centers will be provided by us."

Botond Talpas, MCC's Director for Transylvania, went on to encourage the students. In his welcome speech, he underlined that "MCC starts where traditional education ends. It offers a development opportunity that will enable participants to perform better in the traditional education system and later in the labour market." The director added that MCC strives to make students feel at home in the organization, "and a solid set of values, stability and volunteerism are prerequisites for feeling at home."

The invited speaker for the evening, British political scientist and author Dr. Matthew Goodwin, spoke about the challenges facing higher education. He encouraged students to think critically, to seek the truth honestly and to exercise free debate based on freedom of expression, and to stand up courageously for their values. The opening of the school year was made more festive by a performance by the newly admitted students: a song by Anna Szabó and a violin performance by Ágnes Gombócz, accompanied by Marius Popescu on the piano.

MCC has been present in Transylvania since 2013. It launched the High School Program in Cluj-Napoca and Odorheiu Secuiesc, the University Program in Cluj-Napoca in 2018 and the Young Talent Program for elementary school students in 2020. For the academic year 2024-2025, the Young Talent Program started with 695 students in a new cohort. In addition, a broader series of program, the Young Talent Club, was launched in 2023, involving 7 cities across Transylvania. The new admission period for the High School Program, with over 1000 students, will start in mid-October, and the Transylvanian School of Politics has seen record numbers of young people enrol this year.

In addition to the educational programmes, the MCC also organises public events across Transylvania, which are open to all and can be found on the organisation's Facebook page and mcc.ro.