Citibank Hungary's Citi Country Officer Batara Sianturi launches the 2012/2013 Corvinus University–Citibank Education Program

October 25, 2012

160 students of the Enterprise Finances Department of Corvinus University will be participating in the 2012/2013 Corvinus University–Citibank Education Program in which Citibank Hungary helps enhance the level of education and improve the students' future employment and career prospects through developing their employability and livelihood skills. This year's program was launched on October 18 at the Corvinus campus where Citibank Hungary's Citi Country Officer Batara Sianturi, Dr Miklos Virag, Head of Department of Enterprise Finances and Dr Attila Fiath, professor of the Corvinus University presented the Best Graduating Student Awards for two students. Batara Sianturi held an interactive session with the students building on his presentation entitled "Global Banking Update".

The program entering its ninth year provides financial support from the Citi Foundation to the Enterprise Finances Department of the university to enhance the level of education. Since its launch in 2004 a total of 1,320 students participated in the program, including a series of lectures by Citibank volunteer experts in various financial and banking topics related to the university curriculum, as well as a Case Study Competition and the Best Graduating Student Awards.

The Citi Best Graduating Student Awards presented at the launch event went to Klaudia Szijjarto and Peter Pongracz, the highest ranked graduates of the Department. They have jointly been selected to win this accolade in the 2011/2012 academic year based on displaying outstanding proactive attitude throughout their studies in addition to achieving an exceptional final grade.

Klaudia Szijjarto and Peter Pongracz (in the middle) received the Best Graduating Student Awards from Dr Miklos Virag, Head of Department, Citi Country Officer Batara Sianturi (on the left) and Dr Attila Fiath university professor (on the right) at the program launch event on 18 October

Peter Pongracz, co-winner of the Citi Best Graduating Student Award said, "I am very excited about winning the Best Graduating Student Award in appreciation of the hard work I dedicated to my studies. I found the guest lectures by Citibank experts in the past two years very interesting and useful as they have complemented our theoretical knowledge by sharing with us their real business experiences building on Citi's global knowledge and expertise. The structured thinking, entrepreneurial and teamwork skills that I developed through my studies and various group projects helped me get a job even before my graduation and this is a skill set that I use and continue to build on every day in my work. My long term plans include launching my own enterprise and the funds received with the Best Graduating Student Award will be a great support in the startup phase."

Batara Sianturi, Citi Country Officer for Hungary said, "This was my third year to launch this program in an interactive session with the students and I am very pleased to see how interested students are in the knowledge and experience that we as seniors of a global financial institution can share with them. We are proud to be contributing to the enhancement of the education level at the university as this is one of the key focus areas in Citi's global and our local philanthropic strategy."

Attila Fiath, professor at the Enterprise Finances Department, program manager at the university also remarked, "I am pleased that we have the opportunity to continue this cooperation with Citibank building on the previous years' successes. As a professor I believe that the Citibank lectures as well as the Case Study Competition and the Best Graduating Student Awards encourage and motivate students to enhance their professional, analytical and practical knowledge and skills beyond the curriculum."