There is Nothing Like a DREEM to Create the Future of Medical Education: International and Hungarian Medical and Dentistry Students’ Perceptions on their Learning Environment in Hungary

Abstract

In the last decades of the 20th century, student mobility has significantly increased worldwide. Tuition fees paid by international students have become a crucial part of university revenue, compelling higher education institutions to compete with each other. Global rankings of the best universities have emerged, and the growing influx of international students has transformed the student population at many institutions. In Hungary, the number of international students is most significant at the four medical schools: in Budapest, Debrecen, Pécs, and Szeged. International students come from various countries, with diverse cultural backgrounds, varied experiences, educational needs, and expectations. This raises the following questions: To what extent do Hungarian medical schools meet the expectations of international and Hungarian students? Are international students satisfied with medical and dental education, when compared with their Hungarian peers? The aim of the research was to comprehensively examine the opinions of international and Hungarian medical and dentistry students, studying at the four Hungarian medical schools, regarding their learning environment. This encompassed all aspects of their studies, from the actual physical environment to teaching methods, their own professional knowledge, and social networks. Based on the results, it can be concluded that, while international and Hungarian medical and dentistry students were generally satisfied with the learning environment at the four medical schools in Hungary, significant differences were observed among those enrolled in the Hungarian, German, and English programmes. This highlights areas where further development could enhance the quality and international recognition of medical and dental education in Hungary.