It is an honor and a responsibility that the Prime Minister asked me to lead the Ministry of Culture and Innovation (KIM), I was not given a post, but a task - said the new Minister of Culture and Innovation on Monday, after János Csák, who had been the head of the ministry until Sunday evening, announced his resignation.
Balázs Hankó stated: "I must serve to strengthen and preserve the competitiveness of our nation and its identity based on its communities."
He thanked outgoing minister János Csák, from whom he had learned a lot about leadership and diplomacy in recent years. I want to continue his work - he emphasized.
Regarding his government experience, he said that he has helped the government in many different situations in recent years: he has been an advisor, ministerial commissioner, deputy state secretary and state secretary.
In the KIM, he performed his duties as deputy state secretary responsible for higher education from the summer of 2022, and then from December 2022 as the state secretary for four areas, higher education, vocational training, adult training, and innovation, he recalled.
At the same time, he already worked as a consultant at the state secretariat responsible for health care from 2010, and then from 2017 as ministerial commissioner responsible for the development of medical universities, and from the summer of 2020 as deputy state secretary responsible for higher education under Minister László Palkovics, he added.
"Thus, starting work in the morning became a part of my everyday life even then. I know both ministry and government operations well, and I like and can work a lot," said Balázs Hankó.
Regarding his professional background, he stated that he was originally a pharmacist and university lecturer, but in recent years he worked in the public service in various management positions.
"I feel that I have a thorough knowledge of higher education and several fields of expertise, scientific management and the renewal of public institutions. As a member of a traditional family of pharmacists, in addition to my love of history, there was no question that I would follow my parents' path, so I graduated from Semmelweis University in 2001, where my career as a pharmacist and in education and research began at the same time," said the politician who was invited to head the ministry.
He went on to say that as the university's chief pharmacist, he was responsible for the drug supply of Semmelweis University, the largest patient care institution in the country, he was a lecturer in several subjects, and his research area was pharmacist care and patient-patient cooperation for the correct use of drugs.
He added: he completed his habilitation in 2022 and was appointed university teacher and professor at Semmelweis in 2023; in the management of the university, he was Rector Béla Merkely's strategic deputy until the appointment of the Deputy State Secretary, until the summer of 2020.
About his family, he said that his wife is also a pharmacist, with whom he graduated from university; the oldest of their four children is already a university student, their second child is now graduating from high school, and now the other two are also high school students.
He called the common bond that their family is quite active in Gödöllő community and church life.
"As a husband and father, I have a lot of experience of the joys and difficulties of Hungarian families. As a minister, I consider it a priority task to preserve Hungary's family-friendly spirit and provide full support to those starting a family," he emphasized.
Regarding his professional plans, he emphasized that, above all, his task is to strengthen competitiveness.
"Since we want Hungarian youth to be more successful, competitive universities, XXI. century vocational training is required. I am convinced that our universities, vocational training, adult education and innovation must be at the service of the Hungarian economy. I will work on the language of numbers so that by 2030 we have a university among the top 100 institutions in the world, at least three in the top 100 in Europe. My goal is for Hungary to be among the 10 most innovative countries in Europe. We have good foundations, just think of the Hungarian pharmaceutical industry, which I know well as a pharmacist," said Balázs Hankó.
In the interview, it was also said that we also have work to do in vocational training: last year, Hungarian vocational training won a silver medal at the EC, so now the goal is to win a gold medal next time.
"Hungarian family policy and family matters are world-class, and people from other countries marvel at them. The family, as the basis of our communities, is the main building unit and value of our nation. Completion of the measures taken reinforces this, and must further strengthen this. My goal is to further strengthen the results and possibilities of our family policy, and for young people to be sure that starting a family and raising children is worthwhile and worthwhile at home," he emphasized.
In the field of culture, he set two goals: preserving our national identity and strengthening the value-transmitting role of Hungarian cultural life.
"I strive to appreciate those persons and groups who create values and encourage them to create more. Hungarian culture is rich and special. It is my task and intention to keep the folk culture or the care of the mother tongue as part of our everyday life, and to protect the creations of high culture at the same time. This is the Hungarian model, which must provide a solid foundation for the future of our nation in the Carpathian basin dimension, and this is the competitive turn that we recommend to Europe during our presidency starting on July 1," said Balázs Hankó.
MTI
Cover photo: Balázs Hankó
Source: MTI/Tamás Vasvári
