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The Effectiveness of the Let’s Teach for Hungary Mentoring Program
150-160Views:313The situation of disadvantaged students has been a problem in the field of education for decades, -so much so that several disadvantage-compensation programs have been set up in an effort to reduce its effect. This includes the mentoring process, the primary purpose of providing support and assistance to younger individuals. The subjects of the research are the 7th grade students participating in the Let’s teach for Hungary mentoring program. The questionnaire survey was conducted in the autumn of 2019 (n=585), during which I focused on the children’s expectations of the mentoring program, their learning difficulties, learning motivations, and their plans for further learning. Classifying students in clusters based on their motivations, highlights the fact that the range of participants is not homogeneous this aspect. The Coronavirus epidemic has posed a significant challenge to traditional education, and the opportunities offered by personal mentoring have been pushed into the background over the past year and a half. Educators and students alike have struggled through the transition to digital education (Kristóf, 2020). Attendance mentoring was forced to continue in the form of distance mentoring. In my current research, I examine the existence of distance mentoring, the exploration of experiences, and the preparedness of the participants in the Teach for Hungary program. Data collection began in December 2021, and the query process is still ongoing. I carry out the survey using a mixed-method. I collect quantitative data among students with the help of questionnaires, which focus on the experiences, opinions and readiness of the children. In addition, I use a qualitative, interview-based research method that provides an understanding of more comprehensive experiences. I conduct interviews with educators, mentors, and mentored students. The subjects of the research are primary school students (8th grade students), mentors and teachers of a small settlement in Hajdú-Bihar county and Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg county (n=60 people). The research results can serve as feedback to the participants on the success of work done during distance mentoring. The results obtained can also serve as feedback for the Let’s teach for Hungary program because the program can be developed in the future from interviews.
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Foreign Language Interpretation in Teaching Soloist Singing
75-89Views:262The problems of singing in the original language have become a special feature of the soloist training in the Central and Eastern Europe. The linguistic aspects of soloist training is put to the test by international expectation that regards authentic singing in the original language as a natural part of professional efficiency. In this present paper we are looking for the answers to two questions. First, we examined what factors determine the choice of the language for vocal interpretation. Our second goal is to give an overview of a specific segment of today’s Hungarian students’ population in higher education. We examined institutional, personal and curricular components for perfecting singing in the original language. The empirical study field of our research was Hungary’s higher education institutions of music in the 2016/17 term. Our researches were based on two methodological techniques. Among the higher education instructors of solo singers we conducted structured interviews and students from six higher educational institutions with this profile were the respondents of our questionnaire. The quantitative analysis of the research unequivocally represented the stronger demand of students for the training of linguistic interpretation. Our empirical research showed that the language efficiency of the solo singer students does not meet professional expectations. Pronunciation, comprehension, vocabulary, command of language and intonation are not utilized while singing and using the mirror effect of singing in a foreign language does not help perfect language knowledge either.
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Designing An instrument to measure explicit and implicit learning processes
92-102Views:696In this research paper, the researcher’s intention was to design an instrument that is able to measure learning under two different conditions: explicit and implicit learning. Exploring explicit and implicit learning is gaining more and more attention nowadays in the field of second language acquisition (SLA). The Quantitative method was used in this study to investigate which learning mechanism proves to be more efficient in the selected sample. The present study involved Hungarian technical school, secondary school, and university students from Budapest (N = 40) who participated in completing an Artificial Grammar Learning (AGL) task. The most important finding of the present research endeavour is that implicit learning has proven to be more effective than explicit learning in the case of the selected participants and this was a statistically significant finding. The pedagogical implication of this study is that the effectiveness of implicit learning should be reconsidered by EFL teachers in Hungary.
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Present to Anyone on Any Devices? The Conflict Between Telework and Family Life for Teachers and Researchers of Helping Professions
35-41Views:280The study examined the digital work experiences of academics in human services professions (teachers, doctors, health workers, and clergy). Answers to the following question were sought after: What are the patterns related to digital work? How does work-life or family conflict (WLC) affect teleworking? It was hypothesized that digital work generates WLC. Quantitative international data were collected by the Research and Development Centre for Higher Education (CHERD–H) at the University of Debrecen in 2023, across five countries (Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, and Ukraine). A subsample of 315 academics involved in caring professions was collected and principal component analysis, ANOVA, and correlation tests were performed using the SPSS statistical program. The subsample included 114 male and 193 female teachers, 33 of whom were Romanian. Perceptions of advantages and disadvantages dominated the digital work patterns. In addition, a "digital super-power" component was identified. The ANOVA test showed that Romanian academics had a significantly higher average in perceiving disadvantages compared to others. Academics working minimal hours were considerably more open to seeing the benefits of digital technology than those with longer working hours. According to the correlation test results, there was a negative relationship between the level of WLC and the perception of technology benefits: those who detected digital advantages had lower WLC values, while those who recognized disadvantages had higher WLC values.
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The Importance of Student-Teacher Relationship in Romanian SEN Schools Among Hungarian Minorities
52-59.Views:355The research aims to investigate the status of special schools in Romania, with a focus on student-teacher relationships, attachment-based education, and the Hungarian minority. After a brief historical overview of special schools, the study covers two main directions. We start by outlining how special schools view the value of attachment-based education and sheltered workshop conditions. Then we will use quantitative methods to analyze the research findings of a pilot study with a sample of a total of 60. Our focus will be on children with special educational needs. We will emphasize the impact of segregated education processes and examine current practices and rights. Based on the findings of the study, educators who work in SEN schools have better knowledge of their students’ attachment patterns. These educators are responsible for teaching students with SEN and building safe attachments plays a crucial role in the educational process. Special education setting places great importance on fostering secure attachment in students.
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Exploring the ethical awareness of using artificial intelligence in Algerian tertiary education: Case of undergraduate and graduate EFL students at Souk-Ahras University
71–86Views:61Ethical awareness is a pivotal component of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students’ identity in that it allows them to scrutinize their approach to learning which ensures their autonomy. Therefore, this study explores the ethical awareness of EFL students at Souk-Ahras University, Algeria. This study focuses on the use of Artificial Intelligence by students for their learning. It investigates their variating perceptions on and reactions towards AI for study and whether those views fit into the universal ethical code of conduct. This study employed a quantitative research approach with a descriptive research design. The sample studied consisted of 62 EFL students, selected through a random sampling technique. The collection of relevant data was done through a comprehensive survey. Data analysis was done using statistical analysis. The findings showed that students utilize AI tools for multiple learning purposes while being cognizant of its ethical drawbacks. However, students expressed a shallow approach to ethical reflection and did not rely on an authentic ethical framework upon which their decisions should be made. The study suggests that the development and employment of such a framework should start with teachers, by not merely disseminating charters but also delivering ethical scrutiny through their teaching and counselling.
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The impact of preparatory classes on future student performance: Competency assessment experiences of Hungarian students in Covasna County
37–47Views:25This study examines the impact of the introduction of the preparatory class (reception class) in Romania as an early educational intervention within the framework of school readiness and educational inequality theories. The analysis focuses on Hungarian-speaking students in Covasna County, specifically on the first cohort of fourth-grade students who had previously attended this educational stage. The research is based on a quantitative, full-sample design, including all 1,054 fourth-grade students enrolled in Hungarian-language education. The dataset combines questionnaire data with results from the 2016–2017 national competence assessments, providing a comprehensive overview of academic performance in reading, mathematics, and natural sciences. The study investigates the relationship between participation in the preparatory year, socio-economic background, and academic achievement. The findings reveal a statistically significant association between parental educational attainment, labour market status and student performance. The results indicate that students from families with higher levels of education and more stable employment are significantly more likely to achieve above-average results. This suggests that while the institutional framework is inclusive, family background remains a decisive factor in how effectively children can capitalize on this preparatory period. Furthermore, participation is clearly associated with higher academic outcomes: students who completed the preparatory year are significantly more likely to achieve better results across all three assessed competence domains compared to those who did not. Overall, the preparatory class contributes to reducing the risk of school failure, supporting a smoother transition from preschool to primary education, and lowering early school leaving risks. It provides an extended preparatory period that helps children adapt more effectively to a performance-oriented learning environment. The study highlights the effectiveness of this universal reform while noting that, despite its mandatory nature, it cannot entirely neutralize the reproduction of social inequalities. In conclusion, the preparatory class represents a significant educational policy reform that improves student outcomes and promotes equity, particularly in minority-language and socio-economically disadvantaged contexts.
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Labour Market Characteristics of Helping Professionals
66-75Views:384In Hungary, considerable efforts have been made in recent years to analyse the career paths of higher educational graduates, which have highlighted the need for field-specific and training-specific analysis. In this context, our research concentrates on a special training segment, focusing on the position of young professionals working in occupations helping the function of the society. Previous research focused only on the professionalization of the different occupations and the recruitment was examined from institutional and regional aspects. However, during the statistical analysis we examined the social recruitment base and the labour market situation of social pedagogy graduates in the Graduates 2012 (Frissdiplomások 2012) national database. The novelty of our work lies in the comparison of those who graduated in social work, pedagogy and andragogy in full-time programs. The most important result of our quantitative analysis is the statement that the differences in the composition of the group are strongly explained by the regional location of the institutions providing the training. In terms of horizontal and vertical congruence, the values of the humanities group are the most unfavourable.
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For the Sake of the Cause – Persistence of Romanian Higher Education Students in Finishing their Studies
22-30Views:384As a consequence of the expansion in higher education, the number of students has increased and the academic population has diversified but at the same time the university dropout has become a general problem since the last century (Trow, 2005; Kozma, 2010; Barro & Jong, 2013; Stanciu, 2014; Berei, 2018). In this paper, I proposed to analyze the persistence of students from 5 universities from Romania. We examine at institutional and individual level the perspective of their willingness to finish their studies. In partnership with the Center for Higher Education Research and Development - Hungary, named CHERD – H, from the University of Debrecen, was collected dates among students in 2012 (N=1323) and in 2014 - 2015 (N=323). Through a quantitative analysis, on a longitudinal perspective, I used SPSS statistical program to analyze data. The question of the research was: is there any difference between students` intentions to graduate on private and state institutions? Who is intending to finish and who is preparing to abandon his study? I concluded that students with unfavorable family background have nearly two times lower chance to enroll at state university and in private institutions students intention to enter into possesion of diploma was significant lower. With logistic regression I found also, that low financial status or low schooling of parents is not a significant obstacle on student academic path if they make every effort to participate in educational programs, submit assignments on time and are able to prepare for exams.
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A schema social circle of Indonesian students in higher education
143–158Views:21Social circle is one of the issues that we must address. It emerged as a significant social phenomenon because members joined based on their shared interests, rather than proximity or assigned ranks. It changes based on individual needs and the environment. This research aimed to expand the Indonesian community that studies abroad socially, specifically within their social circle. It is also a goal to explore students' social circle strategies as they learn within Hungary's higher education system. Quantitative pilot research was employed in this study. Convenience sampling was used. A questionnaire was administered to Indonesian students to collect data from 22 per cent (N=47) of Indonesians who studied in Hungary. The Indonesian student was the one who held a Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship. All of them come from different educational backgrounds and programs. The results revealed that most of respondents are members of home country student associations. Among various social background variables, educational attainment emerged as the sole significant determinant of multi-organizational membership. Other result is among the identified clusters, there is one that represents new types of motivations including relationship-building motivations, among Indonesian students. These findings highlight the pivotal role of informal, peer-driven networks in the social integration of Indonesian students, superseding formal university-led initiatives. Universities should implement policies that actively promote student satisfaction by facilitating access to identity-affirming and interest-based student organisations, while ensuring the affordability of participation through low-cost or subsidised social programs to guarantee inclusivity and accessibility for all students.
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Perceptions of effectiveness and performance evaluation in Hungarian higher education in the Carpathian Basin
26-34Views:233Several international studies have addressed the quantitative and qualitative changes in higher education participation and the impact of the evaluative state and institutional quality management on higher education societies (Altbach, 2000; Altbach, 2002; Kwiek & Antonowicz, 2015). However, despite the relatively rich research in higher education in our region, the impact of higher education performance evaluation on the views of faculty members has not been investigated. In our study, we investigate the types of performance evaluation that are typical in higher education in the Carpathian Basin and provide a picture of the perceptions of faculty members on performance evaluation. We will examine the differences and similarities in performance evaluation across the different types of performance. Our research questions concern their homogeneity and interrelationships. We conducted a hybrid coding analysis of the transcripts of qualitative focus group interviews with faculty members in one of the most eastern regions of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), using data from 2022 on the impact of the introduction of performance evaluation in higher education. The main findings of the study show that faculty members' views on performance show high diversity. There is a correlation in views on performance evaluation, but they are not exclusive. The points to consider in the context of performance evaluation can provide guidance for decision-makers in higher education.
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A quantitative study of teacher trainees' experiences of board game pedagogy
129–142Views:18Nowadays, educating the young generation is a challenge for educators, as traditional teaching methods are no longer sufficient (Khalaf & Zin, 2018), so teaching methods that build not only on the cognitive but also on the social and emotional dimensions of learning must be used (Illeris, 2010; Lim et al, 2019.) Board game pedagogy is proving to be a useful method for solving the problems of 21st century education: board games can be used to introduce new topics or to teach specific parts of the curriculum (Damsa & Fromann, 2016; Antonaci et al, 2015). In our quantitative, pilot study (n=103), we seek to answer the question of the extent to which teacher trainees are familiarised with board game pedagogy during their training, and to assess the frequency of didactic methods and working methods used by university teachers. Of the students surveyed, only 54 had heard of board game pedagogy, a large proportion of them consider it to be a motivating and effective teaching tool and would like it to be part of their training. Regarding the variety of working methods and forms of work of university teachers, the more traditional methods of lecture and explanation, as well as individual and frontal forms of work, predominate. Despite these limitations, we have data that could serve as a basis for future research and could also contribute to the development of teacher education.
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Evaluating the impact of a retail management programme on graduates’ industry readiness at a selected South African university
101–114Views:27This study explored the effectiveness of a Retail Management Programme in preparing students for employment in the retail industry. In South Africa, there is growing concern about the disconnect between university education and the labour market's expectations. The primary aim of this study was to assess whether the programme provides students with the relevant skills and knowledge necessary for the workplace. A quantitative research method was employed, and data was collected through questionnaires completed by 40 retail management students. The responses were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings indicate that most students felt well-prepared for customer service, digital work tools, and retail operations. However, some students expressed uncertainty about their readiness, particularly in areas such as data analysis and decision-making. Students were primarily motivated to enroll in the programme to acquire transferable skills and enhance their employment prospects. They also valued training that mirrored real work environments. The study recommends incorporating more input from industry professionals, utilising greater practical learning methods, and placing a stronger emphasis on soft skills, including communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Additionally, curriculum updates and improvements to career support services are suggested to facilitate a smoother transition for students into the job market.
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The Impact of Secondary School Students’ Perceived Parenting Values on School Choice
37-43.Views:229The target group of our quantitative research is comprised of secondary school students from Szeklerland (Romania). A multistage sampling was used: in the first stage students from all denominational schools were included, then students from the assigned non-denominational schools, while in the second stage we included students from the 9th and 11th grades (N=1927). A questionnaire was used as a data collection instrument. We were interested to find out which educational sector boasted most prominently the dimensions of autonomy and conformity values and whether they correlate with the decision-making process regarding the choice of school type.
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Participation in Shadow Education in Church- and State-Maintained Schools: The Role of Cultural and Social Capital
60-75Views:272Research on shadow education is often justified based on Bourdieu’s theory of capital as it is assumed to contribute to social inequalities. This paper focuses on the role of cultural and social capital and on the differences between state- and church-maintained schools in the North-Eastern parts of Hungary. Using a convenience sample and our own constructed measurement tool, a quantitative survey of secondary school language learners (N=711) was conducted to explore the relationship between the effectiveness of supplementary private language tutoring as well as the cultural and social capital of language learners in cross-sectoral comparisons. Our results highlight the positive correlation between the highest educational attainment of the mother, the participation rate in shadow education and language learners’ achievement. In our study, language learners whose mothers had a higher education level demonstrated greater efficiency, in terms of academic achievements. Despite being less successful in passing language examinations as a result of a lower social composition in denominational grammar schools, language learners could count on a higher level of support both from their language teachers - who were better able to support their students to progress at their own pace - and from their classmates and families, demonstrating that social capital had a compensating effect on their learning trajectories.