The Syrian Future Movement, as a national political entity committed to building a modern and prosperous Syria, announces its official position on the Hungarian government’s offer of 150 scholarships for the 2026-2027 academic year. This position is based on a critical analysis that considers the political, economic, and educational contexts, while emphasizing the national and future vision for the reconstruction of the homeland.
The Syrian Future Movement, in its support of Syrian youth during this sensitive transitional phase, affirms that Syria is currently undergoing a fundamental transformation, one year after the fall of the former regime in December 2024, with the formation of an interim government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, the promulgation of a transitional constitution, and the establishment of a provisional legislative council.
However, the Syrian Future Movement highlights the pressing security and economic challenges, including the suspension of some international aid and infrastructure reconstruction efforts after a decade and a half of conflict.
In this context, the Syrian Future Movement views the Hungarian scholarships as a positive sign of international cooperation, especially with the lifting of some sanctions, such as the Caesar Act. However, it cautions that these scholarships may be part of a Hungarian diplomacy focused on enhancing its regional influence without explicit political conditions. The Syrian Future Movement, committed to developing national education, emphasizes the low global ranking of Syrian universities. Damascus University, for example, ranks 1201-1400 in the 2026 QS World University Rankings and is only 54th among 1500 institutions in the Arab world.
Other universities, such as Tishreen and Al-Furat, remain outside prominent rankings due to declining resources and the emigration of skilled personnel. The movement considers Hungarian scholarships a valuable temporary alternative, as they cover core disciplines at mid-ranked universities like Debrecen (ranked 563rd globally). This contributes to the transfer of advanced knowledge back to Syria at no additional cost, provided that fundamental reforms are implemented in the Syrian education system.
In its support of social justice, the Syrian Future Movement highlights the harsh economic conditions faced by Syrian students. More than 90% of the population suffers from poverty, and 33% live in extreme poverty, with inflation exceeding families’ purchasing power. With GDP growth projected at only 1% in 2025 and the rising costs of education and transportation, we view the Hungarian scholarships, which cover full tuition, accommodation, and a monthly stipend (€150-€200), as a genuine relief that helps address the ongoing humanitarian crisis impacting health and education.
The Syrian Future Movement, with its comprehensive national vision, believes that these scholarships represent an opportunity to build a qualified workforce that can contribute to reconstruction, with a focus on graduate reintegration programs to transfer Hungarian expertise to Syria. In the future, with economic improvement and the lifting of sanctions, these scholarships could form the basis for broader educational partnerships, enhancing the ranking of our universities and curbing the brain drain, provided that the application process is transparent and applicants receive training to adapt to the Hungarian environment.
In conclusion, the Syrian Future Movement welcomes these scholarships as a constructive step in a time of challenges, and calls on young people to apply before January 15, 2026, committed to turning them into a tool for the renaissance of an independent and prosperous Syria. We call on the interim government to look for other educational scholarships at advanced universities, and we call on friendly Western countries to support Syrian youth by providing scholarships to advanced universities, which will contribute to the renaissance of Syria and the success of the transitional phase.
