Research & Studies
Kőszeg has become the focal point of international dialogue on peace and human security as H. E. Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Rector of the United Nations University & Balázs Hankó, Minister of Culture and Innovation of Hungary, officially opened the 8th UNESCO MOST Winter School on the 23rd February.
This year’s week long Winter School unfolds against a backdrop of historic progress: Kőszeg was selected as the site of the first United Nations University Institute in the former Eastern Bloc, a unique academic center to be established here through a landmark agreement between the Government of Hungary and the United Nations University, in partnership with the Institute of Advanced Studies Koszeg (iASK). This new institute will advance interdisciplinary research into the root causes of conflict, human security, and transformative technologies that are reshaping societies worldwide.
“We are a small town, but we are thinking big. What we began years ago as a conversation about the future university in Central and Eastern Europe has now become reality. With the United Nations University and our growing network of partners, we are building something that connects this region to a global vision.” said Professor Ferenc Miszlivetz, Director-General of iASK
This year’s UNESCO MOST Winter School was built around the central themes of lasting peace and human security, concepts that framed every panel, keynote and strategic discussion. From geopolitical alternatives and regional cooperation to transformative technologies and digital governance, the program explored how peace must be understood as an active, long-term process grounded in social resilience, ethical responsibility and interdisciplinary knowledge. The convergence of this thematic focus with the future establishment of the new UNU institute was no coincidence. The mission aligns directly: generating pong policy-relevant knowledge to strengthen multilateral governance and safeguard human dignity in a rapidly transforming world.
The Winter School was organized by the Institute for Advanced Studies Kőszeg (iASK) in cooperation with the Ludovika University of Public Service, UNESCO Chair for Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainability, and the Institute for Social and European Studies Foundation.
In his opening address, Minister Balázs Hankó, marked the occasion with a clear statement of intent. Hungary is one of the safest countries in the world, he said, and it intends to stay that way through excellence. The ambition: to place Hungary in the global top ten for innovation by 2030. The new UNU will sit at the intersection of peace, human security, science, and social transformation, drawing on the disciplines that are too often left out of technological conversations: the humanities, the social sciences, cultural heritage.
“The best way of predicting the future is to shape it. This UNU will generate the knowledge needed to improve multilateral governance and help build a global society capable of meeting its obligations in peace, security, and shared prosperity.” highlighted Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of United Nations University & Under-Secretary-General of the UN .
The announcement resonated deeply in a room filled with those who have watched this idea evolve from conversation to commitment. H. E. Ambassador Katalin Bogyay, President of the UNESCO National Commission of Hungary, President of the UN Association of Hungary, and Founder of Women4Diplomacy International, recalled the early conversations she shared with Ferenc Miszlivetz, Jody Jensen, and the late Professor Hankiss. “It is wonderful to see a vision create reality,” she reflected, adding that.
“Kőszeg is the perfect embodiment of what the MOST program stands for: building bridges between research, policy, and social transformation.” empasized Ambassador Katalin Bogyay.
International partners echoed this sentiment. Xiaomeng Shen, Vice-Rector in Europe and Director of UNU-EHS, highlighted the sustained cooperation that made the institute possible. Philippe De Lombaerde, Director of UNU-CRIS, praised the spirit of Kőszeg and the remarkable institutional development achieved in recent years.
A defining milestone of the Winter School was the reception of the United Nations University and iASK delegation by the President of Hungary, Tamás Sulyok at Sándor Palace. During the meeting, Professor Marwala and the President engaged in a forward-looking strategic dialogue on the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. The discussion focused not only on innovation but on responsibility, how governance systems, ethical standards, and multilateral cooperation must evolve alongside emerging technologies. The exchange highlighted Hungary’s growing role in shaping conversations around global AI governance and reinforced the shared commitment to ensuring that technological advancement serves humanity.
This year’s Winter School demonstrated a remarkable international presence, with nearly 200 participants. Students arrived from 23 countries, bringing diverse academic and cultural perspectives to the dialogue. Panelists represented 40 different international universities and organizations, spanning from Europe and the Balkans to Africa and North America, creating a truly global exchange of ideas.The diversity of participation reinforced one central message: peace and human security are shared responsibilities that transcend borders.
As the 8th UNESCO MOST Winter School concluded, one message was clear: Kőszeg is not only hosting global dialogue but also helping to shape global governance. With the future establishment of a United Nations University institute in town, vision has turned into reality, and the future of peace and human security has gained a permanent institutional home in Hungary.