Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania has presented a Bocskai István Award to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in Targu Mures (Marosvásárhely) to recognise his role in founding and developing the higher education institution.

The award, named after István Bocskai, a Calvinist nobleman and Prince of Transylvania in 1605-06, was founded in July 2012 and the Prime Minister was the first to receive it. An eager advocate of Hungarian interests, Bocskai led a revolt against the Habsburg Emperor's efforts to impose Roman Catholicism on the people.

In addition to the award ceremony, Viktor Orbán signed a preliminary agreement on behalf of the Hungarian government with heads of the Sapientia Foundation, Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania and Patrium Christian University on the development of education in Transylvania.

In line with the agreement, the Hungarian government will make 4 billion forints (14 million euros) available for Hungarian higher education in Transylvania in order to finance outstanding development projects.

Parliamentary State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Zsolt Németh, who accompanied the Prime Minister, told Hungarian News Agency MTI that the Hungarian Government would initiate putting the Romanian financing of Sapientia University onto the agenda of the Hungarian-Romanian joint committee’s next session.

(Prime Minister’s Office)