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The two-day scientific and cultural program series entitled “Introducing Transcarpathia” was held on May 22–23, 2025, at the headquarters of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. HHRF colleagues attended. The event provided a comprehensive overview of the scientific and cultural life of Transcarpathia and fostered dialogue between researchers from the region and the Hungarian scientific community. The two-day event as a community forum where Hungarian intellectuals from beyond the border could present their achievements, dilemmas, and future goals.
The event began with a ceremonial opening, featuring speeches by Károly Kocsis (Hungarian Academy of Sciences), István Csernicskó, and Ildikó Orosz (Ferenc Rákóczi II Transcarpathian Hungarian College). The speakers emphasized the crucial role of education and research in Transcarpathia in preserving national identity and highlighted that professional cooperation with the Hungarian Academy of Sciences is of strategic importance not only scientifically but also socially.
The first session of the conference, entitled KOMP – Competence, Education, Balance, Perspective, focused on the current state and future directions of the Hungarian educational system in Transcarpathia. Speakers analyzed challenges in educational infrastructure, adaptation possibilities of digital competence assessments, and feedback-based development practices. Pedagogical and assessment issues were made tangible through practical examples and empirical findings. The subsequent discussion brought forth several proposals aimed at fostering shared knowledge creation and deepening educational cooperation between Hungary and Transcarpathia.
The afternoon session reviewed the changes in Transcarpathia’s economic structure under wartime conditions.Presentations highlighted the combined effects of administrative reforms, the difficulties faced by the SME sector, the fiscal system, and international aid. Special attention was given to socio-economic inequalities and equal opportunity in peripheral regions. With critical sensitivity, the speakers illustrated how changes in economic structures affect local communities’ lives and prospects.
The social sciences session explored the region’s identity layers through historical, language policy, and cultural approaches. Common themes included linguistic accessibility, Hungarian terminology policy, philological and historical research, as well as tourism and art history interpretations—all treating Transcarpathia’s cultural heritage as a dynamic, continuously reinterpreted system rather than a static one. The key message conveyed was that minority status is not only a challenge but also a source of value and inspiration in academic thought.
Running parallel was the natural sciences session, presenting research results in biology, chemistry, and geography. Talent development received special focus in a dedicated presentation, underscoring that ensuring the next generation of scientists is not just an institutional concern but a matter of national strategic importance.
Book presentations were held on both days. The first day featured works on classical and applied natural science research, while the second day focused on publications addressing collective memory, urban history, and ethnography. These book launches not only served to popularize scientific findings but also provided opportunities for direct professional dialogue.
The cultural program added an experiential dimension to the two-day event. A folk music and dance performance by the Tulipán Tanoda conveyed deep musical and cultural heritage, with special attention to the Transcarpathian collections of Zoltán Kodály and Béla Bartók.
Insert right arrow The “Introducing Transcarpathia” program series was exemplary not only in content but also in its approach. It did not merely represent Hungarian scholarship beyond the borders—it integrated it into the domestic scientific community. The message of the event was clear: the scientific and cultural values of Transcarpathia are not marginal but form an organic part of the Hungarian national knowledge space. The strengthened professional ties, the jointly formulated questions, and the future-oriented perspective all guarantee that this dialogue has not ended—but is truly just beginning.
