Brock’s list of international partnerships continues to grow.

The University took another step in strengthening its global connections on Sept. 4 by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the University of Physical Education (UPE) in Budapest, Hungary.

Established in 1925, the UPE is one of the oldest and most successful higher education institutions in the field of physical education. It is one of only a handful of institutions in the world that combines elite-level athletic training with sports science academic offerings.

Located in the heart of Europe, in the Carpathian Basin, the UPE campus features 16 sports facilities and laboratories, practice-oriented training programs, and an international coaching course offering training in more than 20 Olympic sports. There are also major development plans underway to expand on the world-class facilities already available.

Olena Spesyvkh, Vice-Dean of Science, Borys Grinchenko Kyiv University; Brock University Applied Health Sciences Dean Peter Tiidus; Mar Gutierrez-Colon Planar, Rovira I. Virgili University, Tarragona, Spain; a student from the University of Physical Education (UPE); and Judit Kadar, Director, University of Physical Education – International Relations Center at the signing ceremony in Budapest, Hungary for a new agreement between Brock and UPE.

The agreement was facilitated by Peter Tiidus, Dean of Brock’s Faculty of Applied Health Sciences.

Similar programming between both institutions, such as Sport Management, Kinesiology, Recreation and Leisure Studies, and Physical Education, made this a perfect partnership opportunity for Brock, Tiidus noted.

UPE also shares a similar vision to Brock University on internationalization, encouraging mobility for their domestic students and faculty, as well as incoming international students. They also seek to enhance their foreign language training programs and research-based international collaborations.

Over the next five years of the agreement, UPE and Brock will look to develop a number of opportunities for their faculty and students.

In the short term, both institutions will look to implement new exchange opportunities and short-term study abroad programs for faculty, students and student-athletes.

“Many of UPE’s programs are taught in English,” Tiidus said. “The potential for scholarship opportunities through the European Union will help make the idea of studying abroad less intimidating for Brock students.”

There’s also the potential for creating new dual-degree programs in Physical Education, Kinesiology, Recreation and Leisure Studies, and Sport Management, as well as possible coaching clinics and faculty/staff led programs or exchanges in areas such as rowing, fencing and aquatics.

“The agreement provides Brock students with the opportunity to learn about international governing bodies and sport systems,” Tiidus said. “Gaining international experience is becoming an invaluable asset for students in today’s globalized society.”

The agreement will also look to facilitate possible future doctoral internships, tutoring master’s and doctoral students, and research collaboration between institutions.

More information on Brock’s other international partner institutions can be found on the Brock International website.