Education paper by Palotai, Jenő, Viktor Wetzl and Ákos Jarjabka
The Role of Hungarian Schools in the Preservation of Hungarian Identity in the Diaspora
Type of Abstract (select):Abstract (max. 250 words):
The main aim of our research is to give an overview on the identity preserving attempts of Hungarians living in the diaspora. We decided to compare three Hungarian schools from three continents (North America, South America and Australia), selected by a sampling based on geographical location. We compared the similarities and differences of their educational methods with factors determined by us. By the review of the extant but limited literature the authors studied the present situation of Hungarians living abroad and the actual questions of identity preservation with special regard to language learning and preservation. After a short review of the activities of these communities and the history of the Hungarian diaspora in the studied settlements, we introduce the institutions focusing on language education. In our study we present the results of the semi-structured interviews with the students, the present and former directors of the institutions. These results give a detailed image about language education within the Hungarian diaspora. We also compare the educational methodology of the three schools on the basis of different statistical data such as the number of students, their cohort, the individual motivations of students as well as the role of partner institutions in the preservation of Hungarian identity. We introduce the similarities and differences of the institutions located far away from each other. The main differences are shown in the number and motivation of the students. We aim to give an overview on the present situation, problems, challenges and possible opportunities of these communities.
Brief Professional Bio (max. 100 words):
Jenő Palotai earned his BSc degree in the University of Pécs, at the Faculty of Business and Economics of Managemant in the topic of project management, his MSc degree in the topic of talent management. Since 2015 he is a PhD student in the topic of political geography, cultural geography, geopolitics at the Faculty of Sciences, Doctorate School of Earth Sciences in the Department of Political Geography, Development and Regional Studies. His publications encompass hungarian culture, cross border studies, hungarian minority research, as well.
Viktor Wetzl earned his BSc degree in the University of Pécs, at the Faculty of Sciences, Institute of Geography, in the topic of regional and urban development, his MSc degree in the topic of tourism geography and regional development. Since 2015 he is a PhD student in the topic of political geography, cultural geography, geopolitics at the Faculty of Sciences, Doctorate School of Earth Sciences in the Department of Political Geography, Development and Regional Studies. His publications encompass tourism development, hungarian culture, cross border studies, hungarian culture historical geography, as well.
Ákos Jarjabka is an Associate Professor at the University of Pécs, Faculty of Business and Economics, where he received his PhD in 2004 and his habilitation in 2016 as well. Since 2013 he has been the head of the Department of Leadership and Organizational Sciences. His publications encompass the science of leadership, international management, and project management. Since 2005 he has been a member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. He is the head of University of Pécs Diaspore Project Network as a Rector’s Representetive.