Education paper by Szederkényi, Éva, Zoltán Huszár and Péter Várnagy
Language Programmes as Identity Markers – Best Practices from Hungary and the Hellenic Republic (Accepted)
Type of Abstract (select):Abstract (max. 250 words):
Rationale: The flourishing medieval Byzantine-Hungarian historical-cultural relations, and later the flourishing coexistence with the Greek diaspora that settled in several waves in Hungary, has been providing a solid basis for dialogue and exchange of good practices between the two cultures. The mutually prosperous cooperation and strong bonds between Hungary and Greece have been marked by religious tolerance, cultural and economic flourishment, social support and mutual recognition from the Byzantium until our contemporary time.
Aims: The talk is dealing with educational aspects of interaction between contemporary Hungarians and Greeks. The presentation also addresses the concept of education of cultural heritage from the perspective of teaching languages and cultures for expatriates and foreigners via the methodology of comparative analysis. Since the 1980s-1990s both Hungary and the Hellenic Republic have been organizing intensive language and cultural education courses for foreign nationals and those with Hungarian and Greek ancestry to promote intercultural dialogue.
Conclusion: Basic to the analysis is to examine and utilize best practices of Greek and Hungarian language and culture programmes offered which also serve as continued survival and flourishment of the European cultural heritage.
Brief Professional Bio (max. 100 words):
Éva Szederkényi, Dr. lectures as an Assistant Professor at the Institute for Human Development and Cultural Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Pécs, Hungary. Besides doing educational research in the Hellenic Republic in the field of ULLL, her study interests include university lifelong learning, cultural diplomacy and soft skills development.
Zoltán Huszár, Dr. habil. is Director of Institute for Human Development and Cultural Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Pécs, Hungary. His professional field of research is related to the Danube as an integrating factor in Central Europe in the 19-20th centuries, history of culture, history of education and pedagogy, and museums as a cultural mediation institutions.
Péter Várnagy, Dr. habil. is an Associate Professor and Head of Department of Cultural Studies at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Pécs, Hungary. He has been extensively publishing in Hungarian adult education in the process of European integration with special regards to legal regulations, equal opportunities regarding minority rights in the cultural sector and education.