On 5 November 2026, Avicenna International College welcomed a delegation from Szikszó to its Budapest campus for a conversation about esports, digital learning and opportunities for young people to connect across communities.
The meeting brought together AIC colleagues, representatives of the city and people involved in its esports activities. They explored a practical question: how could an interest in gaming become a starting point for learning, cultural discovery and time spent together in person?
Ideas included a possible esports club at AIC, activities involving students from different backgrounds and future exchanges between Budapest and Szikszó. The discussions remain exploratory, with the scope and practical arrangements of any collaboration still to be developed.
What Szikszó’s esports experience brought to the discussion
The visitors described a club where young people who had previously known one another online could meet in person. Alongside gaming, they spoke about board games, group activities and opportunities to discover the history of their city.
One example was a local discovery activity that took participants to historic buildings, statues and other landmarks. Finding an answer or solving a clue helped them move to the next stage. It offered a concrete example of how the structure of a game could encourage young people to look more closely at the place where they live.
AIC has explored a similar connection between curiosity and local history through its Orczy Park treasure hunt, where students used photographs and a historical quiz to discover their Budapest neighbourhood. The Szikszó discussion opened another way to think about connecting students’ interests with the world around them.
Connecting digital interests with an international education
For AIC, an important question was how students who do not speak Hungarian could participate. The meeting explored the possibility of activities and guidance in English, allowing the college’s international community to take part.
The conversation also considered how shared activities might connect with language learning, history and digital culture. Possible visits and joint events were discussed as opportunities for students to meet people outside their usual school environment and learn about another Hungarian community.
These ideas connect with AIC’s approach to learning, which places human guidance, active participation and a sense of belonging at the centre of education. A useful collaboration would need to translate shared enthusiasm into activities with a clear purpose for students.
Parents, balance and responsible participation
The discussion also raised questions that matter to families. Participants considered the suitability of different games, the needs of different age groups and the balance between time online and activities away from a screen.
There were questions about how game choices would fit the college’s educational approach. The meeting also highlighted the importance of explaining a proposed programme to parents and understanding their concerns alongside students’ interests.
Online safety formed part of the conversation too. Protecting accounts through two factor authentication was one practical example of knowledge that could sit alongside digital activities. These considerations would need to inform the design of any future programme.
From the meeting table to AIC’s learning spaces
After the discussion, the delegation visited parts of the campus, including learning spaces and the studio. The photographs capture both the formal meeting and quieter conversations as guests explored the college.
The visit gave the delegation an opportunity to see AIC’s environment while continuing to exchange ideas. It also brought the discussion back to the people and places that would shape any future activities.
Developing the next steps
The conversation concluded with a proposal to exchange further information about Szikszó’s activities and develop more detailed ideas for a follow up discussion. Potential visits and shared events remain subjects for planning.
AIC thanks the Szikszó delegation for sharing its experience and taking the time to explore these possibilities. The next stage is to consider which ideas could work in practice and what support they would require.
Explore an educational collaboration with AIC
Does your school, municipality or organisation have an idea that could bring students together through digital learning, culture or community activities? We would be glad to hear about it.
Contact the AIC team with a short introduction to your organisation, the activity you have in mind and what you hope students would learn. Mention that your message concerns an educational partnership so that it can be directed to the relevant colleagues.
