Expanding Chinese relations: HUSS and CUPES sign cooperation agreement

Hungarian University of Sports Science (HUSS) is expanding its network of Chinese partnerships: this time, representatives from CUPES, the third-ranked sports university in China, visited HUSS to sign a long-term cooperation agreement in the fields of education, research, and sports science.

As many will recall, last autumn Hungarian University of Sports Science (HUSS) signed a historic cooperation agreement with the Shanghai Sports University. Now, HUSS is further strengthening ties with another prominent Chinese institution, the Capital University of Physical Education and Sport (CUPES), which was founded in 1956 and currently has about 5,500 students.

The similarities between the two institutions are striking, making the partnership seem almost inevitable. In fact, as was quickly revealed during a warm and friendly initial conversation, it was the Chinese side that first saw the opportunity for long-term collaboration in multiple areas with HUSS, one that could be mutually beneficial.

The similarities between HUSS and CUPES are evident across many domains: beyond their national prominence in physical education and sports science training, their educational structures, subject offerings, and programme portfolios are also notably alike.

Moreover, CUPES is currently undergoing significant campus expansion, scheduled for completion in 2028. Both institutions boast several English-language programmes and are firmly committed to increasing their numbers of international students and expanding their global networks. During the meeting, it also became clear that both HUSS and CUPES maintain strong ties with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

With these considerations in mind, CUPES representatives visited HUSS on June 4 as the first stop of their European tour. The delegation included CUPES President Zhang Xia, Liu Haiyuan, Director of the Postgraduate Department, Ding Jinguo, Director of General Affairs, Zhang Yan, Director of Sport and Medicine Integration Research Center and Shen Shan, Deputy Director of University Office. They were welcomed by HUSS Rector Professor Tamás Sterbenz, Denissza Blanár, Director of International Relations and Györgyi Koppa, International Relations Coordinator.

Tamás Sterbenz welcomed the cooperation and emphasized that not only are Chinese-Hungarian sports diplomacy relations flourishing, but university-level relations between the two countries are also developing dynamically.

“I see a deepening cooperation between the two countries. To cite just one example, last December, Gao Zhidan, China’s Minister of Sport and President of the Chinese Olympic Committee, was a guest of the Hungarian Olympic Committee. HUSS already has a partnership with the Shanghai Sports University, and we would be glad to strengthen ties with CUPES in Beijing as well. Two years ago, we participated in the World University Games in Chengdu across multiple sports, and our volunteers also contributed to organizing the Beijing Olympics,” he said, highlighting HUSS’s growing connections with China.

7 Jul 2025