The College of Management and Business Studies was established - upon widespread social and professional consensus - as a result of the decades long political and educational policy recognition that for Hungary - a country which needs to have an open economy and is dependent on international cooperation - the multilateral development of its international relations is of vital importance.

The graduates of this institution should speak at least two foreign languages fluently, and have an in-depth understanding of both the theory and practice of international trade, international trade policy, international marketing and business enterprises, international finance and money markets, the European Union, logistics, and total quality management. In addition, this institution should also train experts who are fluent in two or three foreign languages, have a thorough knowledge of psychology, the communication and media sciences, more specifically, international communication, PR, marketing communication, translation and interpreting. These graduates are able to find work in the many areas of international relations.

The College's role and its significance, as a result of the political and economic changes of the 1990s, further increased. With the spectacular expansion and decentralisation of the country's international relations and the process of Euro-Atlantic integration the demand for experts in international relations is increasing and this trend is expected to continue in the future. The students graduating from the College will be able to work in all areas of international trade, foreign relations and the civil service.

A brief overview of the history of the College of Management and Business Studies

The College of Management and Business Studies (formerly College for Foreign Trade) was founded in 1971, when it was granted college status. At that time there were two faculties, the International Trade and the International Business Correspondent. After major changes in the programme of these two faculties, in 1993, the International Economy and the International Communication Faculties were established.

From 1980 it is now possible to study for another first degree. In 1986, specialist postgraduate programmes were launched. 1992 was an important year in the life of the institution, inasmuch as the dual award programmes in collaboration with a British and a French university were introduced.

From Academic Year 1994-94, specialisations were introduced on both faculties and the dual awards programmes and the postgraduate programmes on offer were expanded in response to market demand.

From Academic Year 1995-96, the College has two new accredited faculties offering first degree courses and a further 5 specialist postgraduate programmes. In the postgraduate programme - besides the traditional courses offered - there now is an Economic Diplomacy, an EU, Foreign Trade Financial Management, Oriental Cross Cultural Communication and, at this institution for the first time in Hungary with Dutch participation, Total Quality Management.

The number of students has considerably increased between 1994 and 1998. The number has almost doubled; in Academic year 1998-99 a total of 4,500 students study at the College (3,600 for their first degree). This number is significant both as regards Hungarian and foreign institutions of higher education. An average of 90 students graduate with either a British or a French degree besides their Hungarian degree. Annually some 50 students spend a year studying in Breda, The Netherlands for a Dutch a degree. Dozens of students study on scholarships in various institutions across Europe in Germany, the UK, France, Italy and the Scandinavian countries. Recently more and more students opt for a semester of study in the Baltic states and Russia.