Institutional Development of the Workplace

The Institute of Hungarian Language and Culture has been operating at Prešovská univerzita v Prešove since 2011. On Thursday, 10 November 2011, the Rector of the University, Prof. RNDr. René Matlovič, PhD., officially opened this new university-wide scientific and pedagogical unit. The ceremonial inauguration was attended by the then Deputy Speaker of the Národná rada Slovenskej republiky Ing. Béla Bugár, Deputy Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic doc. PhDr. Rudolf Chmel, DrSc., Consul General of the Republic of Hungary in Košice Czimbalmosné Molnár Éva, Rector of Eötvös Loránd Tudományegyetem in Budapest Prof. Mezey Barna, and Vice-Rector for Science, Doctoral Studies and Accreditation of the University of Prešov, Prof. Peter Kónya, PhD.

Until then, there had been no comprehensive scientific research center in Eastern Slovakia providing in-depth and complex information on the language, literature, and culture of the Hungarian nation and the Hungarian minority living in Slovakia, from the past to the present. This was the main reason for establishing the Institute of Hungarian Language and Culture at the University of Prešov. A second reason stemmed from external impulses related to the current situation of minorities. More than 130,000 citizens of Hungarian nationality live in the Košice and Prešov regions, but they had no opportunity to pursue higher education in their mother tongue within this territory.

Head of the Institute

The Director of the Institute is Assoc. Prof. Annamária Kónyová, PhD.

Staff Structure

The education of national minorities in the Eastern Slovak region involves lecturers from both Slovakia and Hungary. The Institute’s teaching and research activities are supported by associate professors from Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest: Prof. Dr. habil. Tibor Gintli, DrSc., Dr. habil. Katalin Szili, CSc., Dr. habil. Krisztina Renáta Laczkó, PhD.; as well as Assistant Professor PaedDr. Rudolf Radics, PhD. and Lecturer Áron Fodor, PhD.

Accredited Study Programmes and Rights

As a scientific and pedagogical workplace of the University of Prešov, the Institute currently guarantees a Bachelor’s degree teacher training programme in Hungarian Language and Literature within the field of Teacher Training and Educational Sciences. This programme is carried out as an interfaculty study programme in cooperation with other faculties of the University of Prešov.

Another popular Bachelor’s study programme is Hungarian Language and Culture, offered as a combined-subject programme in the field of Philology. It prepares students for translation and interpreting between Hungarian and English, German, or Ukrainian.

The Institute of Hungarian Language and Culture provides training for future teachers of Hungarian language and literature, especially for schools with Hungarian as the language of instruction, as well as for translators and interpreters specializing in Hungarian language and culture.

Research Activities

The Institute focuses on the values and specific features of Hungarian culture, aiming to create a broad space for the research of Hungarian ethnicity, culture, language, literature, history, and the social life of the Hungarian nation—both past and present—within the natural contextual frameworks of Central European cultural development processes.

The scientific research activities of the Institute’s staff concentrate primarily on comparative literature, intercultural communication and multicultural relations, the theory and history of Hungarian literature, interpretation of contemporary literary works, and visual culture. The Institute participates in national and international research projects dedicated to the study of Hungarian language and literature.

The Institute also plays an important role in the education of staff and students of the University of Prešov by offering Hungarian language courses, especially for beginners. Two semesters of these courses have already been successfully completed, confirming the usefulness and benefits of Hungarian language skills in northeastern Slovakia. The language course provides practical knowledge for everyday communication and professional or academic use. The teaching method is based on interactive classes, enabling active communication between the lecturer and participants. The emphasis is placed on the core language skills—speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Mastering grammar and acquiring a sufficient vocabulary are essential to develop these skills.

Contact Information

Institute of Hungarian Language and Culture
Ul. 17. novembra 15
080 01 Prešov, Slovakia

E-mail: magyarintezeteperjes@gmail.com
Facebook: Magyar Intézet Eperjes
Instagram: @magyarintezeteperjes

Study Officer

PaedDr. Mária Berezovská
E-mail: maria.berezovska@unipo.sk
Tel.: +421 51 756 31 89

Erasmus Coordinator

Mgr. Zdenka Citriaková, PhD.
E-mail: zdenka.citriakova@unipo.sk
Tel.: +421 51 75 70 256