What can we learn from US universities? Ludovika: past, present and future!

Type of Abstract (select): Individual Presentation

Abstract (max. 250 words):
Hungarian universities are struggling with declining student numbers (due to demographic factors), and the educational challenges of the 21st century have a significant impact on higher education. As a Hungarian university professor and leader, I also used my Fulbright scholarship in the United States to gain a thorough understanding of how American universities operate and the secrets of their success. To gain a better understanding and a more comprehensive picture of US universities, I conducted research in 2025. I interviewed more than 10 successful university professionals, professors, students, diplomats, and businesspeople with some Hungarian background or connections, with the intention of bringing back to Hungary the essence of their life experiences, the secret of their success, and what they think about a successful university system and their suggestions, ideas as well. The research seeks to answer and investigate the following main questions and topics.
-What is the main mission, core values, advantages/disadvantages of the US Universities?
-What can we learn from the US High Ed system? What are the best practices, methods, and
solutions of American universities that lead to success?
- What are the Hungarian values and breakout points from US academic perspective and how can we improve the cooperation between US and Hungarian Universities?
I hope that the essence and results of these interviews can initiate positive changes in Hungarian higher education, especially at Ludovika, where 200 years of tradition meet the future.


Brief Professional Bio (max. 100 words):
László Christián is a Professor at Ludovika University of Public Service; Fulbright Visiting Scholar (2024/2025), Guest professor at MSU Denver CHHS Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology (2025/2026). Dr. Christián graduated as a lawyer in 2002 and started his professional career at the Customs and Finance Guard in 2002, then continued at the National Tax and Customs Office in various management positions. Since 2016 he has been a regular member of the Police; in 2021 he was appointed police brigadier general. Since 2013, he serves as Head of Department for Private Security and Municipal Policing-, and since 2020 as a Vice-Rector (Vice President, Provost) of Ludovika-University of Public Service (Budapest, Hungary). Ludovika is a unique Hungarian university with a mission, “In the service of the Nation,” to train the next generation of leaders for the entire public sector: law enforcement; military and defense; state security services; public administration; water management, and teacher education.

Dr. Christián has been teaching in higher education since 2002. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Magyar Rendészet (Hungarian Law Enforcement) and Vice President of Law Enforcement Committee at Hungarian Academy of Sciences. He is the author of two monographs and 175+ publications. László Christián is the holder of several awards; he has participated more than 30 study trips abroad on several continents, he regularly gives lectures at national and international conferences. Hi is an Alumni of the International Visitor Leadership Program (USA, 2008) and the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA 113, Budapest, 2023). His field of research is complementary law enforcement, public and private security cooperation, municipal policing, criminal justice, and higher education in the 21st century.