The beginning of a success story – The first 30 years of independent Hungarian higher education in Transcarpathia
The independent Hungarian higher education in Transcarpathia has reached a milestone, as it is now 30 years since the first efforts were made to experience the wide range of sciences through our mother tongue. Since then, the initiators have achieved many results in meeting the educational needs of the Hungarian community. Over the past three decades, our institution has launched a number of professional programmes, broadening the career opportunities for students in the region. It has also contributed to the preservation of the Hungarian culture and identity in Transcarpathia and to the promotion of cultural diversity. The first 30 years of independent Hungarian higher education in Transcarpathia is an example of perseverance and commitment to promoting the educational interests of the Hungarian community in Transcarpathia.
The management, teachers, students, staff and guests of the Ferenc Rakoczi II Transcarpathian Hungarian College of Higher Education commemorated this milestone anniversary in a ceremony on 18 October.
The event was graced by the personal presence of Dr. Katalin Szili, chief advisor to the Prime Minister, Győző Vinnai, MP, Tibor Szabó, mayor of Martonvásár, former chairman of the Office for Hungarians Beyond the Borders, István Tóth, former head of the department of the Office of Hungarians Beyond the Borders, Ildikó Orosz, president of the College, József Molnár, head of the Department of Geography and Tourism, former teacher of the special courses, Gyula Fodor, deputy rector of the II. RF KMF, the first student to graduate from the special courses of the György Bessenyei Teacher Training College in Beregszász, Mihály Tóth, constitutional lawyer, former vice president of the KMKSZ, honorary president of the UMDSZ. The event was attended online by László Brenzovics, president of the Transcarpathian Hungarian Cultural Association and Andrea Bocskor, MEP, former student of the II. RF KMF.
Krisztina Molnár, coordinator of the NGO Pro Cultura Subcarpathica (PCS), welcomed the participants.
“We gathered here today to remember an event that was not even reported in the press in 1993. Today we remember that three decades ago, on 18 October 1993, Hungarian organisations in Transcarpathia joined forces to create a foundation with the aim of establishing an independent, non-state Hungarian higher education”,
István Csernicskó, rector of the College, began his speech, and then recalled the events of the past 30 years, how the launch of the Hungarian Teacher Training College in Transcarpathia appeared on the front page of newspapers.
“It was a long road, but in the end our college became a real intellectual workshop – as the Beregi Hírlap predicted at the time. The proof of this is that we are here today, together and commemorating a long-ago event. And the fact that there is something to remember and someone to share nostalgia with, for me, shows that it was worthwhile to struggle through these years”,
concluded István Csernicskó.
István Gyebnár, the temporary chargé d’affaires of the Consulate of Hungary in Beregszász, welcomed the guests on behalf of the embassies of the motherland, emphasizing that the management of the college had from the very beginning consciously and gradually integrated the institution into the academic life of the motherland, as a series of cooperation agreements had been concluded with universities and colleges in Hungary.
“Despite the difficulties of the past years, the bastion of Hungarian-language education in Transcarpathia has become stronger and stronger, and the perseverance of its defenders is stronger than ever”,
said Edit Babják, head of the Education and Arts Department of the Beregszász City Council, transmitting the message of Zoltán Babják, mayor of Beregszász.
The welcome speeches were followed by panel discussions. First, László Brenzovics and Ildikó Orosz spoke about the beginnings of the independent Hungarian higher education in Transcarpathia, which was born on 18 October 1993.
Afterwards, Mihály Tóth and Tibor Szabó spoke about the successes and pitfalls of the launch and operation of the independent Hungarian higher education, highlighting that initially the institution operated as the special course of the György Bessenyei Teacher Training College in Beregszász.
Győző Vinnai, Ilona Vass and József Molnár gave an insight into the teaching perspective of the process of special course.
Afterwards, Katalin Szili and István Tóth shared their personal experiences of the special course of the György Bessenyei Teacher Training College in Beregszász.
Finally, Andrea Bocskor and Gyula Fodor, as graduates, talked about their years as students.
Meanwhile, the participants of the event had the opportunity to see an exhibition of photos and newspaper articles, which presented the events of the last 30 years.
“The panellists recalled the first pages of a story that has been 30 years in the making. I trust and hope that the real golden pages of this exciting success story are still ahead. And I hope that this story will continue for a long time to come,”
said rector István Csernicskó.
Then the participants of the panel discussion, former teachers and students of the special education programme, received a certificate of appreciation and a gift package for their role in the establishment and operation of independent Hungarian higher education in Transcarpathia.
The day was closed with a musical performance by the teachers of the Tulipán Tanoda.
Anita Kurmay
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