The Ludovika University of Public Service (Ludovika-UPS) – established in 2012 – is the flagship educational institution of Hungarian public service, with a mission that has been part of a long-standing tradition in Hungary. With its educational portfolio, Ludovika-UPS is an important regional knowledge centre for public administration, diplomacy, security and defence, military, law enforcement, water management, and many other social and economic fields related to the public sector.
With its four faculties, the Faculty of Public Governance and International Studies, the Faculty of Military Sciences and Officer Training, the Faculty of Law Enforcement, and the Faculty of Water Sciences, Ludovika-UPS educates specialists for domestic and international public administration, the National Defence Forces and the defence sphere, law enforcement agencies, as well as water specialists. The mission of the University is to train students interested in and committed to public service so as to become successful professionals with the knowledge acquired during their studies.
Talent management is provided by nine Student Colleges for Advanced Studies and the Ludovika Collegium, training future leaders for public administration. The Europe of Nations Career Program, implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, educates professionals with a high-level of knowledge in their respective policy fields, working for different European Union institutions. The Hungarian Diplomatic Academy, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, ensures high-standard theoretical and practical training for future employees of the Hungarian diplomatic ser- vices. Ludovika-UPS also greatly contributes to the improvement of the quality of Hungarian public service.
The University established a system of continuing education for public service and runs one of the largest adult e-learning as well as public administration exam systems. Every year, it organises almost three hundred thousand continuing education courses for civil service officials. The continuing education programme is also part of a professional network among European public services to exchange their knowledge and experience.
As with ensuring high-quality education, research on the one hand and the development and maintenance of its international relations on the other are key components of the mission of the University. Students have the opportunity to obtain a doctorate in four doctoral schools, in the fields of military sciences, military engineering, public administration and law enforcement. A key institution for scientific research at the University is the Eötvös József Research Centre, established in 2019. The scientific projects, conducted by renowned and experienced researchers, professors and experts, significantly increase the competitiveness of Hungarian science and the quantity and quality of strategically important research on the international scene. The work of the research institutes further strengthens the University’s international relations and cooperation with other higher education and scientific institutions.