Fulbright 20th Anniversary Conference Program

Conference th to celebrate the 20 anniversary of the Hungarian Fulbright Commission and the Fulbright Alumni Association Budapest, Ministry of Foreign Affairs May 11, 2012

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Dear Fulbrighters!

The Fulbright Commission in Hungary was established in January 1992, after a binational agreement was signed between the governments of Hungary and the United States. Thus this year we can celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Fulbright Commission in Budapest. The Fulbright program in Hungary is a success story, we are proud of the achievements of the past years. Above running the Fulbright exchange program the Commission is also active and effective in educational advising (we operate an EducationUSA Advising Center) and operates a Computer Based Test Center where people can take tests requested by U.S. universities.

There are around 1000 Hungarian and 1000 U.S. grantees who could participate in the U.S.-­‐Hungary exchange program. They are members of the Family of Fulbrighters who believe "once a Fulbrighter always a Fulbrighter".

We celebrate our great anniversary with a conference and cultural gala under the title

"Fulbright – Committed to the Future".

The mission of this great educational exchange program is as important today as it was in the year of its foundation in 1946. Fulbright has a bright future and I invite all the members of the alumni community and the friends and supporters of Fulbright to make the future full-­‐bright.

Dr. Huba Brückner executive director

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Content

KEY INFORMATION ...................................................................................................... 4 OFFICIAL SCHEDULE OF THE CONFERENCE ......................................................... 5 DETAILED PROGRAM OF THE CONFERENCE ............................................................................ 6 CULTURAL GALA ........................................................................................................................ 22 THE FULBRIGHT PROGRAM IN HUNGARY ........................................................ 23 FOUNDER OF THE PROGRAM ..................................................................................................... 26 FULBRIGHT IN THE WORLD ....................................................................................................... 28 FULBRIGHT IN HUNGARY .......................................................................................................... 30 BOARD MEMBERS OF THE HUNGARIAN-­‐AMERICAN FULBRIGHT COMMISSION FROM 1992 TO 2012 ..................................................................... 41 HUNGARIAN-­‐AMERICAN FULBRIGHT COMMISSION IN NUMBERS ............ 49 ORGANIZING AND PROGRAM COMMITTEE ....................................................... 52

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Key Information

Location

Getting there:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary 1027 Budapest Bem rakpart 47.

Contact person: Izabella Hegedűs 0036 70 387 35 78 hegedus@fulbright.hu

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Official Schedule of the Conference 11 May, 2012

Time 8.30 – 9.30

9.30 – 10.30

10.30-­‐10.45

10.45 – 12.00

12.00 – 13.00

13.00 – 14.15

14.15 – 14.45

14.45 – 16.00

16.00 – 17.00

17.00 – 18.00

18.00 –

Event Registration

Welcoming and historical overview

Break

American-­‐Hungarian relations

Lunch

Cultural Connections Knowing more about the US in Hungary and about Hungary in the US

Break

Fulbright for ever Long term Vision The Role of the Alumni

A glass for Fulbright

Cultural Gala – Celebrating Fulbright

Reception

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Detailed Program of the Conference

9.30 – 10.30

Welcoming

Péter Sztáray, Deputy State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis U.S. Ambassador to Hungary

Miklós Réthelyi, Minister of National Resources

Katalin Nagy , President of the Hungarian Fulbright Alumni Association

Historical overview

Huba Brückner, Executive Director, Fulbright Commission 20 Years of Fulbright in Hungary

Donald Morse, Professor of Literature, University of Debrecen Founding of the Commission -­‐ The Early Years

Chair of the session: Huba Brückner Executive Director, Hungarian Fulbright Commission

Péter SZTÁRAY is Deputy State Secretary for Security Policy (Political Director) of Hungary.

He graduated in 1993 at the Eötvös Lóránd University Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, then spent a year studying at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna.

He has worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1993. Until 1996 he worked as a NATO desk officer. He worked in Brussels from 1996 until 2000 at the Atlantic Liaison Office of the Republic of Hungary, later at the Permanent Representation of Hungary to NATO. In 2000-­‐2001 he worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the Deputy Head of Department responsible for German-­‐speaking countries. In 2002 he was Head of the Americas Department. In 2003-­‐2007 he worked at the Permanent Representation of Hungary to NATO in Brussels. He was Deputy Head of Department, later Head of Department of the MFA Security Policy and Non-­‐proliferation Department.

He managed and coordinated the activities of the MFA Club of Young Diplomats for several years. He is married and he has three children.

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Ambassador Eleni TSAKOPOULOS KOUNALAKIS was sworn in to office by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on January 7, 2010.

Before serving as U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis was president of AKT Development Corporation, one of California’s largest and most respected land development firms.

Ambassador Kounalakis earned her undergraduate degree from Dartmouth and an MBA from the University of California at Berkeley. In 2011 she received an Honorary Doctorate in Law from the American College of Greece.

Ambassador Kounalakis and her husband, veteran print journalist Markos Kounalakis, have founded two university chairs in Hellenic studies, at Georgetown University and at Stanford University. Both chairs focus on the understanding of the origins of Athenian democracy.

Ambassador Kounalakis is a staunch advocate of interfaith dialogue, and served for nearly ten years as a Trustee of the World Council of Religions for Peace and she was awarded the medal of St. Paul, the Greek Orthodox Church of America’s highest honor.

Actively involved in civil society organizations throughout her home state of California, Ambassador Kounalakis served many civil organization movements.

Ambassador Kounalakis and her husband have two children.

Miklós RÉTHELYI is currently serves as the Minister of National Resources of Hungary. He was born in 1939.

He earned his degree from Medical University of Pécs in 1963. He immediately started working with his former professor, János Szentágothai at Anatomy Institute I. and II. of Medical University od Budapest, later called Semmelweis Medical University. He is medical professor from 1986 and he became the rector of the Semmelweis University in 1991 – this was the first free rector election of the University. He was professor and deputy director at the Anatomy Institute I. for 10 years and he also served as the Healthcare Management Training Centre of SOTE. He is the director of the János Szentágothai Nerve Science Doctor School of SOTE since 2000.

He worked in Ukraine, Paris and several times in the U.S. He was nominated to be the Head of the Education Department at the Ministry of Welfare in 1990. In 1998-­‐1999 Mr. Réthelyi was Head of the Department for Scientific Affairs at the Ministry of Education. He holds a candidate’s degree in biology. In 1982 he become the Doctor of Medical Science. He got his latest title as Professor Emeritus in 2010. He was awarded with Academic Award in 1991 and got the Defence of the National Medal in 1995. He got the Albert Szent-­‐Györgyi Award in 2004. He is the author of more than 80 articles and essays. Mr. Réthelyi is married with three children.

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Donald E MORSE, University Professor, University of Debrecen and Emeritus Professor Oakland University, Michigan was four times Fulbright Senior Lecturer and twice Soros Professor at the University of Debrecen. He is the author or editor of fifteen scholarly books, many with the Hungarian scholar Csilla Bertha, and over 100 scholarly articles. His recent books include: The Novels of Kurt Vonnegut, The Mythic Fantasy of Robert Holdstock (with Kálmán Matolcsy), The Anatomy of Science Fiction, and The Dramatic Artistry of Brian Friel (with Bertha and Mária Kurdi). His essays have appeared recently in the Irish University Review, Modern Drama, and Kurt Vonnegut, edited

by Harold Bloom. With Bertha he translated Hungarian plays from Transylvania, Silenced Voices: Five Hungarian Plays from Transylvania launched in the Abbey Theatre in Dublin.

He served on the Bi-­‐lateral Commission to Establish a Hungarian-­‐American Fulbright Commission, was elected the first chair of the commission, proposed the László Országh Chair of American Studies, and served the commission in many other capacities. In recognition of his international scholarship and service to Hungarian higher education, the University of Debrecen awarded him an Honorary Doctorate.

From “Parity of Respect” to a Model to be Emulated: Bringing the Hungarian-­‐American Fulbright Commission into Being

The Bi-­‐Lateral Commission to Establish a Fulbright Cof Respectommission in Hungary was charged with facilitating negotiations between the world’s only Super Power and the newly freed Democratic Hungary. Balancing the national interests of the two countries became subordinated to achieving what the Irish call a ”parity of respect” where each side agrees to recognize the other as an equal, fully participating partner. Once this was achieved then the search for a suitable Director for the new commission began revealing some American naiveté along with the importance of history. No action of the Bi-­‐lateral Commission proved as important or as far-­‐reaching as the appointment of Dr. Huba Bruckner as Executive Director. His tireless work and clear vision brought the Hungarian-­‐ American Fulbright Commission into being as he devised programs, hired staff, and defined the mission and program. The new commission radically redefined the application process to ensure a free, fair, and open competition for fellowships. It adopted democratic policies and procedures to ensure transparency in its operations and meetings. The first year it also resolved to establish the László Országh Chair of American Studies. Over the next twenty years, the Hungarian-­‐American Fulbright Commission and its Director Huba Bruckner were so successful that they became models to be emulated.

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Dr. Huba BRÜCKNER, born in 1946, holds degrees in telecommunications and education from the Technical University of Budapest. His doctoral dissertation deals with the design and application of instruction with computers. From 1970 to 1986 he worked for SZÁMOK/SZÁMALK -­‐ a computer education center -­‐ providing training on computers for students and experts from forty countries. From 1975 to 1981 Brückner was the Director of Courseware Development at the International Computer Education Center.

In 1974 Brückner spent six months in the United States under the United Nations Development Program and studied the use of technology in education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Illinois, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Florida, and Stanford University, as well as at the Mitre Corporation and the Control Data Corporation.

He served as the Deputy Editor-­‐in-­‐Chief of the Hungarian Office of the International Data Group (Computerworld – Számítástechnika) and he was the founding Editor-­‐in-­‐Chief of the Hungarian version of PC World, before becoming the first Executive Director of the Fulbright Hungarian-­‐American Commission for Educational Exchange in January 1992. In the course of the years, the Fulbright Commission in Budapest became one of the most active commissions of the world. As the director of the Fulbright Commission, Dr. Brückner helps to further develop educational exchanges between the U.S. and Hungary. He is the author of ten books and many scholarly papers. He earnt his PhD in 2001.

Brückner is married with six children. He served as president of the Hungarian Association of Large Families. He has been involved in civic movements in Hungary before and during the years of Hungary's transition. He is a member of the Hungarian Atlantic Council.

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10.45 – 12.00

American-­‐Hungarian relations Géza Jeszenszky, Ambassador to Norway and Iceland The Fulbright Program and the Collapse of Communism

Tamás Magyarics, Ambassador to Ireland The Fulbright Program and U.S. Soft Power

Tibor Frank, Professor of History, Eötvös Loránd University 90 Years of US-­‐Hungarian Diplomatic Relations

Tibor Glant, Professor of History, University of Debrecen The Return of the Holy Crown of Hungary, 1978

Chair of the session: William Benkő Fulbright Board Member

Géza JESZENSZKY, Dr. Phil., currently Ambassador of Hungary to Norway and Iceland, was born in Budapest in 1941. He read history, English and library science at Eötvös University, Budapest, receiving an M.A. in 1966, a Ph.D. in 1970 and a degree in librarianship in 1971. Between 1968 and 1976 he was on the staff of the National Library of Hungary. In 1976 he started to teach the history of international relations at the Budapest University of Economics. Following his Fulbright years in California he became a founding member of the Hungarian Democratic Forum (1988), and was Minister for Foreign Affairs in the government of J. Antall (1990-­‐94). Having been Ambassador to the United States of America in 1998-­‐2002 he resumed teaching at the Corvinus University of Budapest (2002-­‐2011). His has published extensively. He is also an avid skier.

The Fulbright Program and the Collapse of Communism

The Cold War and the division of Europe excluded the eastern half of Europe, indeed the whole communist bloc from western scientific and cultural life. That itself contributed to the Soviet Union’s inability to keep pace with the technological advances of the rest of the world. There was a realistic danger of a third world war, fought with nuclear weapons, and it was logical that every well-­‐meaning person should try to prevent such an Armageddon. The only realistic way to achieve that aim was the gradual peaceful penetration of the Soviet Bloc with western culture, thought – and consumer goods.

With détente slowly making advances cultural and scientific contacts were also re-­‐established. Opportunities for the citizens, especially for scientists

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and scholars from beyond the Iron Curtain to travel, to do research and to have lasting ties helped to open the “captive minds”, and thus to loosen the rigid ideology which dominated life in the communist world and stifled free inquire, the foundation of science and scholarship.

When the communist authorities agreed to start cultural exchanges and eventually joined the Fulbright Program, they intended to have it under close control. But the requirements for receiving grants and the people running the program assured that more and more people from the eastern half of Europe were able to participate, who were not “party hacks,” and who personally informed the public on both sides of the ideological divide about life and conditions, about the enormous difference which existed between the western and the eastern world.

I was one of those persons who received a Fulbright grant to teach at the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1984. A cultural officer at the U.S. Embassy in Budapest was familiar with that campus and with the aim of UCSB to expand its coverage of Central and Eastern Europe. I was to teach the recent history of that region, and a friend of mine to present its rich culture. We both were dedicated to freedom and democracy, and did not hide our critical attitude to the authoritarian system which existed even in “the jolliest barrack in the communist bloc.” Many Fulbright scholars from other communist-­‐dominated countries thought like us. Returning home we became part of the movement for political change, my friend, Gyula Kodolányi and myself were among the founders of the Hungarian Democratic Forum, the first organized movement to challenge the political monopoly of the communist authorities. When that party won the free elections in 1990 Gyula became the Chief Foreign Policy Adviser of Prime Minister Antall, and myself his Foreign Secretary. Among the new political leadership of the new or restored democracies one could find many former Fulbrighters.

Tamás MAGYARICS After graduating from high school and doing military service, he got admitted into Kossuth Lajos University, Debrecen as an English and History major, later he studied at Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest. He graduated in 1981 as a teacher of English and History. Between November 1984 and May 1986 he taught Hungarian in the United States and, at the same time, attended the Graduate School at the Department of History at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. After returning to Hungary, he was a part-­‐time lecturer at the Department of English Studies at ELTE. He was Associate Professor here later. He earned a University Doctorate in 1987 at ELTE and a Candidate’s Degree (Ph.D.) in 1997 at the Academy of Sciences, Budapest.

He delivered his habilitation lectures in 2006.

He was the Secretary General of the Hungarian Atlantic Council (2001-­‐2002); and

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since 2002, he has been a Senior Research Fellow at the Hungarian Institute of International Relations (formerly the Center for Foreign Policy Studies, Teleki László Institute) Budapest. He was also the Editor-­‐in-­‐Chief of the Külügyi Szemle and its English language version, the Foreign Policy Review.

His major fields of research include the history of the US-­‐Central European relations in the 20th century, with special reference to the Cold War years; the history of the U.S., with an emphasis on foreign affairs; the transatlantic relations; and the theory of international relations. He has done research in a number of archives and libraries in the U.S. For research in these and other institutions he has received several grants; among other ones a Fulbright-­‐grant. Magyarics is the Ambassador of Hungary to Ireland since 2011.

THE FULBRIGHT PROGRAM AND U.S. SOFT POWER

The ’hot war’ almost immediately was transformed into a ’cold war’ in the latler half of the 1946. The contest was, on the most general level, between two opposing world views and, therefore, it was a contest for the ’hearts and minds’ of the people all over the world.

The U.S. enjoyed a ’jump start’ of sort in this struggle as it was the practically the only country to have been founded on ideology. Moreover, the U.S. had to assume the role of an ’empire by invitation’ almost by default. The responsibilities incorporated not only traditional defense of its allies buti t also required a ’full spectrum’ dominance in military, economic, political, and even cultural areas. The various American administrations operating within the broad framework of the ’open society’, were promoting cultural exchange to get scholars, students, etc. to visit the U.S. and, likewise, their American counterparts to get to know foreign countries. The program was intended to encourage both institutional and people-­‐to-­‐people contacts and, in a broader sense, to pull down the intellectual and spiritual ’Berlin Walls’ in the minds of the people all over the world. The hundreds of thousands of the beneficiaries of the program have become goodwill diplomats as well and, though it may be difficult to prove scientifically, they most certainly contributed to the avoidance of a major war between the two sides during the Cold War and to the promotion of tolerance, mutual understanding, and cooperation between countries, organizations and invididuals alike.

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Tibor FRANK (1948) is Professor of History at the Department of American Studies and Director of the School of English and American Studies, at Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary (1994─2001, 2006─). He was one of the founding members of the Department of American Studies in Eötvös Loránd University in 1990 and Chair from 1992 to 1994. In Spring 2000 he set up a Ph.D. program in American Studies at Eötvös Loránd University which he has served as program director.

Between 1987 and 1990 Tibor FRANK taught as a Fulbright Visiting Professor of History at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) and also at UCLA. In 1990─91 he was invited to the University of Nevada-­‐Reno as a Distinguished Visiting Professor of History. Between 1994 and 1997 he was founder and director of UCSB's The New Europe program. He was a Visiting Professor at the History Department of Columbia University in the City of New York in 2001 and 2007.

Since 1992 he has been a regular visiting professor at the Education Abroad Program of the University of California in Budapest (1992─2008), and the Institute of European Studies in Vienna, Austria (1999─). He lectured in over 30 U.S., Canadian, British and European universities and contributed to over 50 conferences in both Europe and the United States.

Dr. FRANK was awarded the Országh László Prize (2000), the Pro Universitate and the Pro Neophilologia in Hungaria awards (2002). He received the Humboldt Forschungspreis (Research Award) from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Germany for 2002 and, as a result, he spent the academic year 2003─04 at the Max-­‐Planck-­‐Institut für Wissenschaftsgeschichte in Berlin, Germany. In recognition of his achievement in higher education he was awarded the Szent-­‐Györgyi Albert Prize (2005). He has been elected Corresponding Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, London (2006−).

Tibor GLANT is Associate Professor and Chair of the North American Department at the University of Debrecen, Hungary. He majored in English and History at Debrecen (1986-­‐91), holds an MA (1992) and Ph.D. (1996) from the University of Warwick, UK, in American history, and completed his Habilitation at Debrecen in 2008. His main interests lie in American history, culture, and film in the twentieth century and in US-­‐Hungarian relations. His books include Through the Prism of the Habsburg Monarchy: Hungary in American Diplomacy and Public Opinion during World War I (1998, in Hungarian: 2008), Remember Hungary 1956: Essays on the Hungarian Revolution and War of Independence in American Memory (2007, in Hungarian: 2008) and A Szent Korona Amerikai kalandja, 1945-­‐78 (1997). His most recent work analyzes Hungarian travel writing on the US in the second half of the nineteenth century.

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13.00 – 14.15

Cultural Connections Péter Medgyes, DSc. in Education, Eötvös Loránd University Full of Bright Moments

Péter Forgács, Film Director, Media Artist Hungarians in the U.S.

Knowing more about the U.S. in Hungary and about Hungary in the U.S.

Jenő Bárdos, Professor of Language Pedagogy, Eszterházy Károly College From American Roots Music to Crossover: Favourite Rarities

László Rosivall, Professor of Medical Sciences, Semmelweis University A Hungarian Visiting Scientist in the U.S. -­‐ More than 30 Years of Experience

Chair of the session: Edward Loo Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Embassy, Fulbright Board Member

Péter MEDGYES is Professor of Applied Linguistics at the Eötvös Loránd University of Budapest. Previously, he was a schoolteacher, teacher trainer, vice rector of his university, deputy state secretary at the Hungarian Ministry of Education and the ambassador of Hungary posted in Damascus. Professor Medgyes is the author of numerous books and articles, including The Non-­‐Native Teacher (1994, winner of the Duke of Edinburgh Book Competition), Changing Perspectives in Teacher Education (1996, co-­‐edited with Angi Malderez), The Language Teacher (1997), Laughing Matters (2002), How is This for Fun? (2008) and Golden Age: Twenty Years of Foreign Language Education in Hungary (2011). His main professional interests lie in language policy, teacher education, and humour research.

Full of Bright Moments

At the beginning of my presentation I shall reminisce about the way I got in touch with Fulbright and planned my ten-­‐month grant in 1988/89. Next I shall touch upon the challenges I faced in my early encounters with American English and American customs. After a brief description of my work at the University of Southern California, I shall conclude by reflecting upon the professional gains this grant brought to bear on my future professional career.

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Dr. Jenő BÁRDOS, DSc, Full Professor of Linguistics and Education, Dr. Jenő Bárdos, DSc, served as a Fulbrighter at Rutgers University (N.J.) between 1988-­‐90, where he founded an 18-­‐credit minor in Hungarian Studies. This is the only graduate degree in the US still in operation. Previously, he taught at ELTE in Budapest for 18 years. Following his US experience he founded and chaired The English and American Studies Department (later Institute) at the University of Veszprém between 1990 and 2010. He became the founding Dean of an FAS named Faculty of Teacher Training in which position he established 11 departments and 8 programs. In 1999 he launched a Doctoral Program in Applied Linguistics and Language Pedagogy. He is a research professor in education and language pedagogy at the Eszterházy College in Eger, and Director of Studies of the Doctoral School in Education.

From American Roots Music to Crossover: Rarities

My course on US Folk Music, delivered several times in the past decades, consists of 14 lectures containing nearly 300 tunes: Yankee songs and Southern Mountain ballads; blues and country; gospels and spirituals; bluegrass and the Western swing, Cajun and zydeco – in short – varieties of this incredible hybrid originating from American roots music. Some of the folk songs became so popular that they have crossed over into various genres of popular music and turned into ’mainstream’ with the help of broadcast media. Fifty-­‐something years later some of the originals have become rarities, or the other way round. It is up to the listeners of this little presentation to decide which side of the coin is up. But what can you do with 300 tunes in 15 minutes? It’s only a shimmering light, my friend, only a reflexion of the original, but it is still: ’This Little Light of Mine’…

Péter FORGÁCS is a film director and media artist. Since the early 1990s Forgács' video installations have been presented at museums and art galleries throughout Europe and America. His international debut came with The Bartos Family (1988). Since then he has received several international festival awards – in New York, Budapest, Lisbon, Marseilles, San Francisco and Berlin, where he won the Prix Europa for Free Fall film in 1997.

Between 2000-­‐2002 Forgács was artist in residence at The Getty Museum/Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles, where he created The Danube Exodus: Rippling Currents of the River installation. His works can be found in several museums and public collections. In 2007 Forgács was awarded with the most prestigious Dutch Erasmus Prize for his notable contributions to European culture. In 2009 Forgács represented Hungary at the Venice Biennale, exhibiting the Col Tempo-­‐ The W. Project installation. He became Cultural Ambassador of Hungary in 2011.

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Prof. László ROSIVALL MD., PhD., DSc. (1949), Széchenyi-­‐prize laureate, is a member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, head of the Institute of Pathophysiology, and Doctoral School of Basic Medical Sciences and past president of Semmelweis University, Budapest. He is the president of Worldwide Hungarian Medical Academy, chairman of ISN GO Central and Eastern European Committee, Council member and Chairman of Renal Commission at the International Society for Pathophysiology, Founder and the President of Hungarian Kidney Foundation, head of the first nephrology PhD program in Hungary and founder of Budapest Nephrology Summer School. His interest covers pathophysiology from molecules to bedside. He has trained 27 PhDs. Recently he started with his gypsy medical education program as a pioneer model in Europe. He serves in editorial boards of 16 peer-­‐reviewed journals. He published 150 articles, 73 chapters, 2 textbooks. He has 2 patents and his Hirsch index is 23.

A Hungarian visiting scientist in the US More than 30 years of experience

In 40 years of my research career, I have spent about 15% of this time abroad in countries like Norway, the USA, Germany and France. I lived for about 5 years, half of this time with my family, in the USA. Of my three daughters, one was born in Birmingham Alabama. I spent longer periods at UAB, Tulane, Harvard and USC.

I can full-­‐heartedly state that living in America as a researcher is a different, unique and determining experience from professional, personal and cultural viewpoints. The second-­‐to-­‐none professional activity, open and free professional life, almost unlimited opportunities, diversity and indisputable technical infrastructure are all impressive and attractive. The country’s nature and its beauties, its people and their colorful culture, are also added values.

America has played a decisive role in the development of my carrier and through me the lives of many of my young Hungarian fellows who have been in America and among them some are internationally recognized researchers living and working in the USA. However, the effect is mutual and reciprocal, because I have helped many Americans in shaping their professional carriers. For instance, I have mediated for many Americans to receive the Honorary Doctorate from Semmelweis University, honorary membership of various Hungarian scientific associations and helped the advancement and co-­‐operation of many with my expert opinions and support.

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Science does not recognize borders, it is globalized. Those who distance themselves from the scientific family, for whatever reason, will lose. Those win who undertake the leadership. A great credit goes to Fulbright for the recognition of the fact that America and the rest of the world will be stronger, more peaceful and successful via wide range professional contacts, therefore it is worth the investment. Fulbright is right. I recommend every young researcher to spend a few years in the USA, build contacts, make friends, and get experience before establishing their own laboratory at home.

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14.45 – 16.00

Fulbright Forever

Long Term Vision

Bay Fang, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State

Norbert Kis, Deputy State Secretary, Ministry of National Resources

Norbert Kroó, Former Vice President, Hungarian Academy of Sciences Committed to the Future – Science and its Role

The Role of the Alumni

Katalin Nagy, President of the Alumni Association Active Alumni Community

Chair of the session: Gabriella Kereszty Fulbright Board Member

Ms. Bay FANG assumed her current position as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs in December 2011.

Ms. Fang comes from an 11-­‐year career in journalism. She was most recently the Diplomatic Correspondent for the Chicago Tribune. Prior to that, she covered the wars in Afghanistan (2001-­‐2002) and Iraq (2003-­‐2004) for US News and World Report magazine. She started her career in journalism as the Beijing Bureau Chief for US News and World Report, where she won the Robert F. Kennedy journalism award in 1999 for her story “China’s Stolen Wives.”

Ms. Fang spent a year with the State Department in southern Afghanistan, where she served as a senior communications advisor (2009-­‐2010). She spent the past year as a visiting fellow at Oxford University, where she wrote and spoke about covering conflict in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Ms. Fang earned her undergraduate degree at Harvard University and was a Fulbright scholar in Hong Kong. She is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations and holds a brown belt in kung fu.

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Norbert KIS was born in 1972, in Szombathely, Hungary.

He got legal diploma at Eötvös Loránd University 1995 and became a professor of the Corvinus University of Budapest. He started his PhD studies at University of Groningen (NL) and University of Aix-­‐Marseille (FR) and also started postgraduate education at Institut International des Droits de l’ Homme in Strassbourg in 1996. He got his legal diploma at Université de Nantes (FR) in 1997.

He was a guest lecturer of Central European University and was the head of the Legal and Administrative Department of the Ministry of Education, than secretary advisor in the Ministry of Economics from 1998 to 2000. He earned his PhD degree at Eötvös Loránd University in 2002 then he became the vice-­‐dean of Public Administration Faculty of Corvinus University of Budapest till 2006.

Meanwhile he was a guest lecturer of the doctoral school of State and Legal Sciences Faculty at the Eötvös Lóránd University in 2003.

From 2003 to 2009 Kis was the professor of the Penalty Law Department of Széchenyi István University. He was the vice-­‐rector for international affairs of Corvinus University of Budapest Between 2006 – 2010. He was attorney of the Gellér & Kis Attorney Office in 2004 – 2008. In 2008 – 2009 he took part in the education of the Hungarian EU-­‐presidency staff as the expert of the Office of the Prime Minister.

He was appointed director of the National Institute of Public Administration in november 2010.

Kis was elected as executive board member of International Association of Universities (UNESCO) in Paris in 2008 and he is Deputy State Secretary at Ministry of National Resources at present.

He is married and has one daughter.

Prof. Dr. Norbert KROÓ, Special Advisor of Hungarian Academy of Sciences, member of the Scientific Council of the European Research Council, was founding director of the Research Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics of HAS. He worked in several countries, and with outstanding scientist like Herbert Walter and Alexander Prokhorov. He is the former president of the European Physical Society and member or honorary doctor of several distinguished scientific institutions and has received awards from many states and their academies. His latest decorations are: the Wallis E. Lamb Award for Laser Physics and Quantum Electronics (USA), the Commander of the Order of the Lion (Finland), Honorary Member of the European Physical Society and the Hungarian Prima Primissima Prize.

Research fields: laser physics and quantum optics, surface plasmon optics. He was published 300 scientific papers, and owner of 40 patents.

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Committed to the Future (Science and its role)

We are living in a changing world, full with crises in all aspects of life, and our planet starts to get small for mankind. Energy, water, food gets short, the environment is over-­‐polluted and education is also in crisis.

We face grand challenges in these fields and the technologies used in our economies are slowly drying out.

In these conditions the significance of knowledge in general and scientific knowledge in particular is increasing. There is a growing need for new technologies, based on new ideas, coming mainly from research.

In this process the need for talents is increasing. New approaches are needed in research, but equally in education.

The main elements of these changes are internationalization, democratization, multidisciplinarity and cooperation. In collaboration both governmental and non-­‐governmental organizations may play a decisive role. And smaller partners may contribute to the process in big countries too. The lecturer believes, that this is the case in US-­‐Hungarian relations too.

As far as the future is concerned, it is not wise to try to predict, but possible to influence it. In this drive sustainability is the main selection rule.

The lecture is centered around these issues, with some attention to US-­‐ Hungarian relations, in light of the 20 years experience of our Fulbright activity.

Katalin NAGY, Dr. was graduated at the University of Szeged with „excellent” result and started her professional carrier at the same Institution, where she is continuously working till today. She acquired postgraduate diploma on Stomatology, Restorative Dentistry and Oral Surgery. In 2004 she became the Head of Department of Oral Surgery, and in 2007 became the Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry.

She was awarded with international grants, and spent longer period of time in different countries (i.g.Germany, UK) The Fulbright-­‐fellowship, which took her to the US Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in 2002, was the most important mile-­‐ stone of her professional life. Returning back to her home institution her experience and knowledge were extremely beneficial in teaching, research and patient care.

In 2008 she became the board member, and the chapter-­‐representative, and 2011 she was elected as a President of the Hungarian Fulbright Association.

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The Role of Alumni

Becoming a Fulbrighter, means entering into a diverse community of accomplished individuals. There are many ways to stay involved, including reaching out to home communities, participating in Fulbright alumni associations, networking with other Fulbrighters, and becoming a Fulbright Alumni Ambassador. Whether it is for career development and possibilities, new grant opportunities, travel advice, or post-­‐grant activities, Fulbrighters are always ready to help each other.

As of 2011, approximately 310,000 Fulbrighters from over 155 countries have participated in the Fulbright Program since it began in 1946.

In 1991 the Hungarian Fulbright Association was established by Fulbright alumni to promote the goals of the Fulbright program even after the completion of their stay in the United States. The Association concentrates its efforts in the fields of culture, research and education.

The Association of Hungarian Alumni is based in Budapest. 2008. a Regional South Hungarian Chapter of the Alumni has been established in Szeged followed by a Regional Chapter of Alumni for North-­‐East Hungary in Debrecen. More recently a regional chapter in Pécs and another one in Miskolc has been established.

Foundations like Fulbright depend on fundraising. The current financial situation makes our work more difficult. We need to think creatively and use our resources wisely. It is always important to develop initiatives and program for sustainability.

Herewith I ask you kindly to support us, in order to be able to look into a developing and feel really “Committed to the Future”.

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Cultural Gala

Performed by Current and Former U.S. and Hungarian Fulbright Grantees

Zsolt Srajber and the Imperatrix Choir

Andreas Rauch: Concentus Votivus

Gyula Fekete Composer

Excelsior! -­‐ Liszt Goes to Heaven Contemporary Hungarian Opera Entreé of Liszt's groom presented by Tivadar Kiss

Fifteen Hungarian Peasant Songs by Béla Bartók No. 7-­‐15

Daniel Bruggeman Pianist

András Gerevich Poet

Judit Gábos Pianist

Balázs Lázár Actor, Poet

Róbert Gulya Composer

Éva Tóth Poet

Hao Huang Pianist

Amerikai Color Egy csütörtök Az én New Englandem Provincetown New York, 2001. szeptember 13.

Ferenc Liszt: Concert Paraphrase on Ernani by Verdi Wing Without Angel Post Scriptum

Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn Film score Creation of The World

George Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue

Master of Ceremonies: Veronika Schandl

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THE FULBRIGHT PROGRAM IN HUNGARY

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Building Alumni Potential Being one of the founding members and for more than a decade the president of the Hungarian Fulbright Association (HFA), it was a special gift of my life to get involved and to contribute to the shaping of the structure and activities of HFA. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary, it is worth remembering briefly the varied types of activities by which in an innovative way we have created the present face of the Association and have managed to build alumni potential.

From a historical perspective these activities can be viewed at two levels: 1. the period prior to the start of the official Hungarian involvement in the Fulbright Program, from the late 1970s through the official establishment of the Fulbright Commission in Hungary in 1992.

2. the period after the establishment of the Fulbright Commission, in close collaboration with the Commission.

The Hungarian Fulbright Association was founded in Hungary on May 9, 1991.

With absolutely no prior experiences in alumni activities to build on, a brand new association was founded based on traditional values, democratic principles, and with an objective to attract former Fulbrighters to become active members.

Our alumni activities have seen a continuous development up to the present stage. Today it functions in a decentralized form. There are regional Fulbright chapters that organize local meetings and programs.

In the following, I would like to highlight briefly some of the projects offered to our members over the past years. These programs were versatile, some of them took place regularly, while others were organized simply on the spur of the moment. A common feature of these programs was that they aimed at offering cultural enrichment, and at the same time fostered team spirit among the members of the Alumni Association. The programs took participants to places that are otherwise not accessible, not open to the public, or are not well known. Some were excursions (like cruising on the river Danube or visiting the IFOR military base in Taszár during the time of the war in Yugoslavia, or a Fulbright visit to the ZOO, etc.), while others were cultural and educational.

These included among others annual visits to the flower show at the University of Horticulture, a visit to the Széchényi National Library, to the Department of American Studies of Eötvös Loránd University, a visit to the FBI Academy, and the Fulbright Road Show in 2006.

The aims of Fulbright lectures and discussion programs were similar. In the

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course of the years, with monthly regularity, Fulbright alumni had the chance to meet dozens of renowned Hungarian and American personalities. These lectures provided interesting, frequently first-­‐hand information on a wide choice of topics.

The values of an association lie in its activities. It is worth mentioning that there were numerous occasions when our members volunteered to invite newly arrived American scholars to their homes and provided them with useful information to make the transition to their new environment smoother.

Strengthening international ties by commemorating internal events has also been a focal point of our activities. HFA had entered into collaboration with the European Fulbright Association, and attended their conferences in Toledo and Strasbourg, received a German alumni group in Hungary, etc.

Our festive conference, called the Spirit of Global Understanding in 1996 -­‐ organized jointly with the Hungarian Fulbright Commission -­‐ aimed at celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Fulbright Program. It attracted Fulbrighters from all continents. We organized a similarly successful international anniversary conference entitled FULBRIGHT -­‐ CHALLENGES AND RESPONSES in 2002.

Developing alumni potential also means more active collaboration, and networking at both national and international levels. Our Association recognized the advantages offered by the information superhighway, and launched its first website in the 1990s. In an attempt to contribute to the establishment of a virtual international Fulbright Network, we were among the first to have our website hosted by State Alumni and encouraged the Hungarian alumni to become members.

As demonstrated by this brief historic overview, the Hungarian Fulbright Association has gone a long way from its foundation to become a well-­‐ functioning Association.

Prof. Ákos Máthé

Former President of HFA

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Founder of the program Senator J. William Fulbright

J. William Fulbright was a prominent and gifted American statesman of the 20th century. His political career of over thirty years in the U.S. Congress was distinguished by his unequaled contribution to international affairs and marked by his tenure as the longest serving chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He had profound influence on America’s foreign policy, and his vision for mutual understanding shaped the extraordinary exchange program bearing his name.

He was born on April 9, 1905 in Sumner, Missouri. He was educated at the University of Arkansas where he was awarded the B.A. degree in Political Science in 1925. He then attended Oxford University where he received an M.A. degree and was transformed by his international experience.

When Fulbright returned to the United States, he studied law at George Washington University in Washington, DC. During the 1930′s, he served in the Justice Department and was an instructor at the George Washington University Law School. In 1936, he returned to Arkansas where he was a lecturer in law and, from 1939 to 1941, president of the University of Arkansas, at the time the youngest university president in the country.

He ran for political office in 1942 and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives; he entered Congress in January 1943 and was appointed to the Foreign Affairs Committee. In September of that year, the House adopted the Fulbright Resolution supporting an international peace-­‐keeping mechanism encouraging United States participation in what became the United Nations, and this brought national attention to Congressman Fulbright.

In November 1944, he was elected to the U.S. Senate and served there from 1945 through 1974, becoming one of the most influential and best-­‐known members of the Senate. In 1949, Senator Fulbright became a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. From 1959-­‐1974 he served as chairman of the committee.

His Senate career was marked by notable instances of principled dissent. In 1954, he was the only Senator to vote against an appropriation for the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which was chaired by Senator Joseph R. McCarthy; and, in 1961, he lodged serious objections to President Kennedy in advance of the Bay of Pigs invasion. But, Senator Fulbright also worked to build national consensus, for instance, he supported creating a national center for the arts, and his initial legislation led to the founding of

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the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

He was particularly in the spotlight as a powerful voice in the turbulent Vietnam War era, when he chaired the Senate hearings on United States policy and the conduct of the war. In 1963 Walter Lippman wrote of Fulbright: “The role he plays in Washington is an indispensable role. There is no one else who is so powerful and also so wise, and if there were any question of removing him from public life, it would be a national calamity.”

After serving five consecutive terms in the U.S. Senate, Senator Fulbright was defeated in Arkansas’ 1974 Democratic primary. He then served as counsel to the Washington law firm of Hogan & Hartson and remained active in support of the Fulbright Program. He received numerous awards from governments, universities, and educational organizations around the world for his efforts on behalf of education and international understanding.

In 1993 he was presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Clinton.

On February 9, 1995, Senator J. William Fulbright died in Washington, DC at the age of 89.

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Fulbright in the world

The Mutual Educational Exchange Program or the Fulbright Program, named in honor of Senator J. William Fulbright, was established by the U.S. Congress on August 1, 1946. It is now administered under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, which provides the legislative authority for the Program. The main objective of this Act is "to enable the government of the United States to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries ... and thus to assist in the development of friendly, sympathetic, and peaceful relations, between the United States and other countries of the world."

To accomplish this goal, the Fulbright Act authorized the United States to enter into executive agreements with countries that wished to participate in the program. It also authorized the establishment of offices or commissions in participating countries. The binational character of the Fulbright program makes it unique among other public or private educational exchange programs.

The program operates in around 150 countries. Binational commissions were established by executive agreements in 50 countries. The J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FSB) in Washington, DC, comprises 12 educational and public leaders appointed by the President of the United States. It has statutory responsibility for the selection of all academic exchange grantees, the establishment of policies and procedures, and the supervision of the Fulbright Program worldwide. Motivated by the need to change the U.S.'s traditional isolationist policy, the Fulbright Program developed into an indispensable resource for scholars and institutions all over the world.

Since its inception, the Fulbright Program has welcomed more than 300,000 researchers, lecturers, teachers and students from the United States and from the partner countries. Many have assumed leadership roles, including Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, Heads of State and Prime Ministers, artists and ambassadors, Governors and Senators, professors and physicians, Supreme Court Justices and CEOs. These Fulbrighters, past and present, have enabled the Fulbright Program to become the world's largest and most prestigious scholarly exchange program.

The goals declared in the proposal for launching the Fulbright program did not change basically during the course of the years. The most important one among them is "to promote better understanding between the United States

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and other nations". It is a fact, that those who have spent longer period in another country with the help of a scholarship, could get better familiar with its inhabitants, culture, values and problems. It is also true, that they can better estimate the values of their own country. Due to their personal experiences, most of the former Fulbrighters became deeply devoted to mutual understanding.

The primary source of funding for the Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation by the Congress to the Department of State. Participating governments and host institutions in many countries -­‐ including Hungary -­‐ also contribute by cost sharing as well as by indirect support such as salary supplements, tuition, university housing and other benefits.

During the past years more than 115,000 U.S. citizens and 190,000 from abroad participated in the program, among them such prominent persons, like Willy Brandt the former German Chancellor, Javier Solana the former Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the famous Italian writer Umberto Eco, and Nobel Price awarded economist Milton Friedman, to mention only a few of them.

The prestige of the Fulbright Program is highly assured by the Fulbright Prize established in 1993. It is similarly prominent like the Nobel Prize for Peace.

The Prize is awarded to those who have played significant role in increasing mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The inaugural Fulbright Prize was awarded to Nelson Mandela, President of the Republic of South-­‐Africa in 1993. Jimmy Carter former U.S. President received the 1994 Prize.

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Fulbright in Hungary

Hungary joined the Fulbright Program in 1978, after improved relations followed the return of the Coronation Regalia to Hungary by the United States.

The Fulbright Commission in Hungary was established in January 1992, after a binational agreement was signed between the governments of Hungary and the United States in December 1990. The Hungarian government has acknowledged the importance of the Fulbright Program and also helps financially. The Ministry of Education provides the office space for the Commission and significantly contributes toward the program costs. The Hungarian-­‐American Fulbright Commission for Educational Exchange has been registered in Hungary as a non-­‐profit educational foundation.

The goal of the Hungarian-­‐American Fulbright Commission for Educational Exchange is to support educational and research programs which are in harmony with the spirit of the signing partner states and which receive financial support from the two governments. The Fulbright Commission organizes the exchange of Hungarian and American graduate students, teachers, scholars, researchers, lecturers and artists. The aim of the office is to increase the visibility of the Fulbright Program in Hungary, to enhance the viability of Hungarian-­‐American relations, and to encourage possibilities for scholarly exchange between the two countries. During the course of the past more than 30 years around 1000 Hungarians and 1000 Americans participated in the U.S. -­‐ Hungarian exchange program.

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BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FULBRIGHT PROGRAM IN HUNGARY

1978

Hungary joins the Fulbright Program -­‐ the program is administered by USIS, Budapest and by the Ministry of Education in Hungary

1990

The governments of the United States of America and the Republic ofHungary sign an agreement to establish Fulbright Commission in Hungary

1991

Establishment of the Fulbright Association in Hungary

1992

January, 28 Official inauguration of the Fulbright Commission in Budapest

1993

Hungary hosts a group of 16 U.S. participants of the Fulbright-­‐ Hays Summer Seminar program for the first time

1994

§ The Fulbright Commission in Budapest organizes and hosts the "DIALOG -­‐ Transition in Hungarian Higher Education" conference § Senator J. William Fulbright receives the Silver Cross medal of the Republic of Hungary § Opening of the Fulbright Educational Advising Center

1996

§

Fiftieth Anniversary of the global Fulbright Program First global meeting of Fulbright Commission directors in Washington,D.C.

§

1997

Spirit of Global Understanding '96 anniversary conference in Budapest -

Mrs. Harriett Fulbright as honorary guest participates in the conference

-

President Carter addresses the Conference.

Establishment of the Computer Based Test Center

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1998

2000

2002

2003

§

Meeting of the Fulbright Commission directors from Europe, Canada and Israel in Budapest

§

6th Conference for Overseas Advisers in Western, Eastern and Central Europe and the Newly Independent States

§

Expansion of the Computer Based Test Center, introduction of the CBT version of TOEFL

§

Hungary hosts a group of 16 participants of the Fulbright-­‐Hays Summer Seminar program for the third time

§

The fourth Fulbright-­‐Hays Summer Seminar in Hungary (and Poland)

§

Events of the first International Education Week in Budapest (November 2000)

§

More than 10.000 clients served by the Fulbright Educational Advising Center

2 § 0 0 2 0 § 1 1 §

The Culture of Languages conference jointly organized by the Fulbright Commission, the Embassy of the United States in Budapest and the Hungarian Ministry of Education (January, 2001)

§

Fulbright -­‐ Challenges and Responses conference celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Fulbright Commission in Budapest and the Alumni Association in Hungary

§

Mid-­‐term workshop for the New Century Scholars Program, Budapest-­‐Eger, April 25-­‐28 2002

§

The fifth Fulbright-­‐ Hays Summer Seminar in Hungary (and Poland) topic: Stable Partner in Democracy

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Events of the third (November, 2002)

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Board meets with Dr. Bálint Magyar, Minister of Education, Honorary Chairman in February on its 65th Board Meeting Hungary participates in The New Century Scholar Program with a grantee

§

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International Education Week with events in Budapest and Pécs The American Linkages of the Hungarian Higher Education -­‐ conference in Budapest

International

Education

Week

§ § §

The Commission actively participated in the events organized for the Black History Month International College Days Tour visited Hungary – hosted by the Fulbright Educational Advising Center The Computer Based Test Center received an ETS excellence award

2004

§ § § §

2005

§ § §

2006

§ § § §

2007

§ §

The Fulbright Board had its 70th Meeting at the University of Pécs The first volume of the Fulbright Student Conference Papers was published Special orientation day for American Fulbright Teacher Exchange participants in Hungary Board Meeting at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences by the invitation of Prof. Norbert Kroó, secretary general of HAS, member of the Fulbright Board Board meets Prof. János Gergely, Chair of the HAS’s Bolyai János Research Scholarship Program Farewell reception for the homegoing U.S. grantees with a cruising on the river Danube.

World Conference of the Hungarian Professors in Nyíregyháza – Dr. Huba Brückner presented the Fulbright Program Fulbright Board meets at the University of Szeged on its 78th Board meeting Fulbright – Hays Summer Seminar: Hungary: Old Traditions and New Life of the EU, June 25 – July 22, 2006 Fulbright on the Road – roadshow to Debrecen, Nyíregyháza and Miskolc, November 14-­‐16, 2006 My Fulbright Experience I. – Reports of returned Hungarian Fulbright Grantees of 2002/2003, 2003/2004, 2004/2005 was published Meeting of the returned Hungarian grantees of AY 2005/2006, January 23, 2007 82th meeting of the Fulbright Board in Eger at the Eszterházy Károly College, May 14, 2007

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2008

§

§

2009

§ §

§ 2010

§ § §

2011

§

§ § § §

2012

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§

Renewal of the Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Hungary concerning to the Hungarian American Commission for Educational Exchange My Fulbright Experience II. – Reports of returned Hungarian Fulbright Grantees 2005/2006, 2006/2007 was published The Fulbright Commission becomes a „public benefit foundation” Successful fundraising efforts for helping more Hungarian students to go to the U.S. (donors among others: U.S. Embassy, KogArt, Simonyi Foundation, Demján Foundation, OTP Bank, Alcoa Foundation) Fulbright Student Conference Papers, II. – Academic years 2004/2004, 2005/2006, 2006/2007 Fulbright – Hays Summer Seminar: 20 Years Later Hungary from Communism to Democracy, June 27 – July 17, 2010 Hungarian Fulbright Day – Hungarian Academy of Sciences, September 24, 2010 Dr. Huba Brückner receives the Gold Cross of Merit of the Republic of Hungary Civil Division Preparations start for celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Fulbright Commission and the Hungarian Fulbright Alumni Association – special logo for the anniversary year Alumni Chapters at Debrecen, Szeged, Pécs and Miskolc Hungarian Fulbright Day at Eötvös Lóránd University, Budapest, November, 2011 Dr. Huba Brückner receives the Merit Award of the Hungarian Fulbright Association Meet the Scientist Program: former Fulbright grantees visit Hungarian high schools all over the country and speak about their field of science and Fulbright experience 20th Anniversary of the Fulbright Commission and the Alumni Association in Hungary: Fulbright – Committed to the Future conference and gala event

Management Structure

The highest decision making body of the Commission is the Board. Five members are citizens of the United States and five are citizens of the Republic of Hungary, all are prominent personalities in the scholarly and economic communities. Respectively, two members are representatives of the diplomatic mission of the United States in Hungary and of the Hungarian Government. The Ambassador of the United States of America to Hungary and the Minister of Education of the Republic of Hungary serve as honorary chairmen of the Board.

The Fulbright office in Budapest works as a foundation. The bigger part of the program's budget (cca. 75%) is provided by the United States, however the Hungarian partner significantly contributes to the budget right from the opening of the Fulbright Commission. This means not only financial support, but in-­‐kind contribution, too, since the Hungarian partner provides the office rooms and utilities to run the Commission.

Grant opportunities

The Fulbright Program accepts candidates from the different fields of science and arts. Priority is given to the social sciences and humanities as they relate to the United States and Hungary. Emphasis is given to subjects related to the social, economic and political changes in Hungary. Other fields connected with contemporary Hungary are also considered, such as environmental protection, business administration, management of nonprofit organizations, privatization, studies on democracy, health care, public law and others.

In the spirit of the Fulbright Program special preference is given to candidates who are willing to share their experiences and knowledge in the broadest possible way.

The Fulbright Program offers the following grants for Hungarian candidates: • graduate student grants (postgraduate studies for achieving higher degrees); • grants for researchers; • grants for lecturers; • teacher exchange grants; • special grants.

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The duration of the graduate student grant is typically 9-­‐10 months (2 university semesters); that of the lecturer grant is 5 or 9 months (1 or 2 semesters) and research grants are for 3-­‐9 months; highschool teachers grant is for one school-­‐year. All awards are subject to budget appropriations. The grants can be obtained by an open competition. Basic eligibility requirements are Hungarian citizenship, university or college graduation and English proficiency. The applications are evaluated by a committee of American and Hungarian experts. The final decision is made by the Board of the Hungarian Fulbright Commission.

Grant possibilities for Hungarian citizens are announced in March each year in daily newspapers, local papers, university papers and through Internet. To provide broader information on the Fulbright Program's grant possibilities and advising on a successful application, the office organizes short seminars at several university sites throughout the country. The many acquired information help in preparing the appropriate American style curriculum vitae and workplan not only for a Fulbright grant but also for other fellowship applications.

Great emphasis is given on spreading information on the program throughout the country. During the past years the number of applicants from Budapest and out of Budapest has been continuously growing. According to the impressions of the experts participating in the evaluation procedure, it is true, that there are many applicants with great professional knowledge and excellent proficiency in English. Annually, there are 8-­‐15 Hungarian students, 3-­‐5 lecturers, 7-­‐10 researchers and 3-­‐5 highschool teachers awarded by the Fulbright Scholarship to travel to the United States.

As declared in the policy guidelines of the Fulbright Program only those candidates are accepted who, after returning from abroad, intend to serve their country's scientific, educational and intellectual sphere.

U.S. SCHOLARS IN HUNGARY

Each year there are 25-­‐35 lecturers, teachers, researchers and postgraduate students coming from the U.S. to Hungary in the framework of the exchange program. As American citizens, they can apply for scholarship in the United States and they are also selected in an open competition. Scholarship possibilities are announced according to the request of the host country e.g.

Hungary. Year by year the Commission makes a survey of the Hungarian requests for American Fulbright visiting professors, researchers, students that

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serves for basis of the award assignment for American applicants.

Before starting their academic year in Hungary, American scholars participate at the orientation course to get acquainted with the history of Hungary, the internal and foreign affairs of the country. They get a survey on the Hungarian higher education system, its development projects, and several fields of her cultural life. As part of the orientation course, participants have the opportunity to go for a Budapest sightseeing and a Szentendre-­‐Visegrád tour.

Above the basic professional functions (research, teaching and studying) the Fulbright program has a key role in the development process of the Hungarian Higher Education (introduction of new subject fields and new teaching methods; implementation of the credit system and Ph.D. programs; new methods of managing the institutions of higher education; alumni, fund-­‐raising etc.). At present the program has two distinguished chair positions, the Marshall Chair for Political Sciences and the László Országh Chair for American Studies. The latter helps to further improve the better understanding and bridge building between the people of the U.S. and Hungary.

While staying in Hungary, U.S. scholars get together during the monthly "brown bag meetings" to share their work -­‐ research experience, to listen to lectures on up-­‐to-­‐date topics i.e. the U.S. aid projects to Hungary, the political situation, the developments in higher education etc.

Within the course of time, some "brown bag meetings" were broadened and became Fulbright weekends. On the occasion of these two-­‐day-­‐long meetings out of Budapest American participants may get to know other university towns, higher education institutions, culture and famous sites of the visited towns.

The Fulbright Commission gives great emphasis to build professional relationships between the Hungarian and American scholars participating in the program. This kind of networking may be developed to a long-­‐term partnership between institutions.

THE EDUCATIONUSA ADVISING CENTER

In Hungary, a growing number of students seek opportunities for further education in the United States in programs offering a first degree as well as in graduate-­‐level courses. The Commission established the Fulbright Educational Advising Center (FEAC) in 1994 to advise Hungarian students wishing to pursue their further education in the United States.

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The center is open to the public and its services are available for individual and group counseling (for undergraduate and graduate students, post-­‐ doctoral fellows and researchers). The center also handles inquiries on all aspects of United States education.

With its library of reference books, American university catalogue collection, handouts, CD-­‐ROMs and internet access, the Advising Center provides the most comprehensive source of information in Hungary about U.S. higher education. The Advising Center maintains close ties with the American Corners in Hungary. The center offers workshops on the American system of higher education and serves as a liaison between American universities and the foreign relations offices of some Hungarian universities.

The center provides information on: how to define study objectives and find appropriate institutions; admissions requirements for study in a particular field; testing requirements (TOEFL, GRE, GMAT, SAT, USMLE, GED, ACT); test preparation materials; possible sources of financial assistance; application procedures; adjusting to academic and cultural life in the U.S.; scholarship opportunities; the Fulbright Program, eligibility requirements, application procedure.

• • • • • • • • •

Standardized Testing English Proficiency Those who plan to pursue studies in the U.S. and whose native language is other than English, need to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), an internet-­‐based test measuring reading, listening, speaking and writing skills. Each institution sets its own English language admission standard on the IBT scale of 0-­‐120.

Admission Tests The U.S. educational system as well as international institutions worldwide judges the academic qualifications of applicants on their test results.

Standardized admissions tests are primarily multiple-­‐choice aptitude test that are intended to measure the quantitative, verbal and writing skills necessary for undergraduate study (SAT, SAT Subject or ACT). Graduate

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degree programs require applicants to submit scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE, GRE Subject) or the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) for business programs. To find out if you need to take one or more of these tests, consult with your EducationUSA adviser.

Test Preparation Less stress when it comes to testing! A wide selection of test prep materials (books and CDs) for all standardized admissions tests can be checked out for individual study at home. Targeted training offers powerful strategies to help you score higher including hundreds of review questions with thorough explanations. Computer-­‐based practice tests are also available for the TOEFL, GRE, and GMAT in our computer lab by appointment.

Detailed information on registration and test preparation can be found in English and Hungarian at our website: http://www.fulbright.hu/educationusa

FULBRIGHT-­‐PROMETRIC COMPUTER-­‐BASED TEST CENTER

The computer-­‐based test center started its operation in October 1997.

Examinees can take the TOEFL, GRE, GMAT, GED and USMLE tests at the Fulbright operated test site, which is the only one of its kind in Hungary. The center operates with 12 workstations. Computer-­‐based testing uses computer adaptive questions and allows short registration and notification time. The site is designed to meet high standards of security, comfort and professionalism to insure fairness, accuracy and consistency (including special features for disabled test takers).

Besides providing basic information about the structure and content of each test, as well as about the registration and payment procedures, FEAC allows students to check out test preparation materials and practice on the computer under real testing circumstances.

HUNGARIAN FULBRIGHT ASSOCIATION

In 1991 former Hungarian Fulbrighters established the Fulbright Association operating as an independent organization to: • gather Hungarian scholars previously spending their scholarship in the United States and support their cooperation in the spirit of the Fulbright Program; • keep contacts with Hungarian scholars currently in the United States;

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• professional-­‐personal contacts with American scholars in Hungary; • help building contacts between Hungarian institutes, individuals and American research, educational institutions and experts; • foster the relationship with other national Fulbright associations and patronize the regular meeting of European Fulbright Associations; • organize and arrange conferences, excursions and other cultural programs.

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BOARD MEMBERS of the HUNGARIAN-­‐AMERICAN FULBRIGHT COMMISSION from 1992 to 2012

Hungarian-­‐American Fulbright Commission Board 1992 -­‐ 2012

The Board is the main policy maker body of the Fulbright program, which presently consists of ten members, who represent the academic, diplomatic and business community in Hungary. The Chair of the Board is elected by the members. According to the traditions, there is a rotation in that position.

Chairs

1991-­‐1993

Professor Donald Morse

1993-­‐1995

Professor János Gergely

1995-­‐1997

Ms. Donna Culpepper

1997-­‐1998

Professor Zoltán Abádi Nagy

1999-­‐ 2002

Mr. James Nealon

2002-­‐2005

Professor Zoltán Abádi-­‐Nagy

2005-­‐2007

Mr. Cesar Beltran

2007-­‐2009

Mr. Michael J. Hurley

2009-­‐2011

Professor Tibor Frank

2011-­‐

Mr. Edward Loo

Members

American citizens

Hungarian citizens

Mr. László Balássy General Manager Citibank Corp. Hungary (2009-­‐

Prof. Zoltán Abádi-­‐Nagy Vice Rector Kossuth Lajos University of Science/ University of Debrecen (1996-­‐1999; 2002-­‐2008)

Dr. István Bakos Head of Division of Higher Education and Research Ministry of Culture and Public Education (1991-­‐1994)

Mr. John Balian Cultural Affairs Officer American Embassy (2010-­‐2011)

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Mr. Péter Becskeházy Cultural Affairs Officer American Embassy (1995-­‐1996)

Dr. Tamás Bazsa Head of Division of Cultural and Educational Diplomacy / Ministry of Education (2009-­‐2011)

Mr. Cesar Beltran Public Affairs Officer American Embassy (2002-­‐2006)

Prof. Elemér Biszterszky State Secretary Ministry of Culture and Public Education (1991-­‐1994)

Dr. Stephen E. Benkö Director Egon Zehnder International (1991; 1998-­‐2002)

Prof. János Csirik Deputy State Secretary Ministry of Culture and Public Education (1995)

Mr. William Benkő Director Renewable Energy Center of Hárskút (2010-­‐

Mr. Károly Dán Deputy Head of Cultural and Educational Diplomacy, Ministry of Education (2006-­‐2007)

Ms. Beatrice Camp Cultural Affairs Officer American Embassy (1996-­‐1999)

Mr. László Dinya Deputy State Secretary Ministry of Culture and Public Education (1996-­‐1998)

Ms. Donna Culpepper Public Affairs Officer American Embassy (1995-­‐2002)

Mr. Gábor Dunai Counselor for Foreign Affairs Ministry of Culture and Public Education (1991-­‐1998)

Ms. Christine Elder Cultural Affairs Officer American Embassy (2002-­‐2004)

Prof. István Ember Professor Medical School / University of Pécs (2012-­‐

Mr. Peter Eliot General Manager Citibank Corp. Hungary (1991-­‐1994)

Prof. Tibor Frank Director – Institute of English and American Studies Eötvös Loránd University of Science (1999-­‐2002; 2009-­‐2011)

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Mr. R. Bryan Gerrish General Manager Pannon-­‐Fusion Restaurants Ltd. (1992-­‐1994)

Prof. János Gergely Member Hungarian Academy of Sciences (1991-­‐1997)

Ms. Carolyn Glassman Cultural Affairs Officers American Embassy (2009-­‐2010)

Dr. Péter Horn Professor Emeritus University of Kaposvár (2009-­‐2011)

Ms. Judith Greenspan Assistant Cultural Affairs Officer American Embassy (1991-­‐1994)

Mrs. Gabriella Kereszty Counsellor Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2012-­‐

Mr. Brian Guss Cultural Affairs Officer American Embassy (1999-­‐2002)

Prof. László Keviczky Secretary General Hungarian Academy of Sciences (1998-­‐2002)

Ms. Janet Heckman Vice President Citibank Corp. Hungary (1994-­‐1995)

Prof. Ádám Kiss Deputy State Secretary Ministry of Education (1999-­‐2002)

Mr. Michael J. Hurley Counselor of Public Affairs American Embassy (2006-­‐2009)

Ms. Erzsébet Kígyós Head of Division Ministry of Culture and Public Education (1996-­‐1997)

Ms. Suzan Kutor Investment and Trade Manager American Chamber of Commerce in Hungary (2002-­‐2008)

Dr. Imre Kondor Rector Collegium Budapest (2002-­‐2008)

Mr. Roger Lang Deputy General Manager Digital Equipment Hungary (1994-­‐1995)

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Prof. Domokos Kosáry President Hungarian Academy of Sciences (1991) ?

Ms. Judith Longley Analyst Citibank Corp. Hungary (1995-­‐1998)

Prof. László Kovács Professor Medical and Health Science Center University of Debrecen (2012-­‐

Mr. Edward Loo Counselor of Public Affairs American Embassy (2010-­‐

Prof. Norbert Kroó Deputy State Secretary Ministry of Education Secretary General Hungarian Academy of Sciences (1998-­‐1999; 2002-­‐2008)

Prof. Matthew Mancini Salgo Chair Eötvös Loránd University (1995)

Prof. Tamás Lajos Chairman – Hungarian Tempus Board Budapest University of Technology (1991-­‐1995)

Prof. James Miller Visiting Professor Salgo Chair, Eötvös Loránd University (1991-­‐1993)

Dr. Zoltán Loboda Deputy Head of Department of EU Coordination and Planning / Ministry of Education (2006)

Mr. William Morgan Public Affairs Officer American Embassy (1996-­‐1999)

Mr. György Madarász PR Manager Ford Motors Co. Hungary (1996-­‐1999)

Prof. Donald Morse Professor Institue of English and American Studies University of Debrecen (1991-­‐1993; 2002-­‐2010)

Dr. Gábor Mészáros Director General Hungarian Equivalence and Information Centre, Ministry of Education (2002-­‐ 2003)

Mr. James Nealon Public Affairs Officer American Embassy (1999-­‐2002)

Dr. Gábor Nagy Head of Department International Department / Ministry of Education (2004-­‐2005)

Mr. Kenneth Rice Representative Minnesota Trade Office Hungary (1995-­‐1997)

Dr. Tamás Németh Secretary General Hungarian Academy of Science (2009-­‐2011)

Mr. Daniel Spikes Cultural Affairs Officer American Embassy (1991-­‐1994)

Dr. Paulina Oros Deputy Head of Division Ministry of Justice (1999-­‐2002)

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Mr. Péter Szabadhegy Management Consultuing Helikon Publishing (2009-­‐

Prof. József Réffy Director General – Division of Higher Education Ministry of Education (1999-­‐2002)

Mr. Mark Trauber Cultural Affairs Officer American Embassy (2004-­‐2008)

Prof. Miklós Réthelyi Director General, Science Division Ministry of Education (1998-­‐1999)

Mr. Joseph R. Truesdale, IV Deputy Political/Economic Conselor and Political Sectio Cheif American Embassy (2011-­‐

Prof. András Róna-­‐Tas Rector József Attila University of Sciences Chairman Hungarian Accreditation Committee (1991-­‐1996)

Mr. David Young Representative KJK Publisher Ltd. / AMROP International (1998-­‐2002)

Dr. Erzsébet Takács Deputy Head of Division of Higher Higher Education Programs Ministry of Education (2002-­‐2008)

Mr. Ivan Weinstein Assistant Cultural Affiars Officer American Embassy (1995-­‐1996)

Dr. Ildikó Takács Communications Director Trigránit Developement Corporations (2009-­‐2011)

Dr. Katalin Szilágyi Törökné Dr. Ministry of National Resources (2011-­‐

Dr. Lajos Vékás Rector Eötvös Loránd University of Sciences (1991-­‐1994)

Prof. Dr. Beáta Vértessy Scientific advisor Institute of Enzymology /Hungarian Academy of Sciences (2012-­‐

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THE STAFF OF THE HUNGARIAN-­‐AMERICAN FULBRIGHT COMMISSION

The Staff of the Hungarian-­‐American Fulbright Commission as of May 2012

Dr. Huba Brückner (Mr.) Executive Director

Ms. Klára Berzétey Assistant to the Director and Test Center Administrator

Mr. Csanád Nagypál Finance and IT Director

Ms. Krisztina Kováts (formerly Krisztina Dietz) Program Officer, Hungarian grantees

Ms. Annamária Sas Program Officer, U.S. grantees

Ms. Kornélia Litkei Senior Adviser, EducationUSA Advising Center

Ms. Veronika Nagy Test Center Manager, Computer Based Testing and Educational Adviser

Ms. Imola Kollár Test Center Administrator

Ms. Izabella Hegedűs Event Coordinator

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HUNGARIAN-­‐AMERICAN FULBRIGHT COMMISSION in numbers

Hungarian grantees in the U.S. between 1992-­‐2012 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

8

104

60

21

Lecturer Researcher Student 250 Humphrey Teacher Exchange

275

Total number of grantees: 718

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U.S. Grantees in Hungary between 1992-­‐2012 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

81

14 17

25

193

Országh Chair Marshall Chair Lecturer Researcher Student

178

Teaching Assistant 58

Teacher Exchange

Total number of grantees: 566

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Organizing and Program Committee

Huba Brückner, Dr.

Executive Director

Katain Nagy, Dr.

President of HFAA

Tibor Frank, Dr.

Leadership Member, HFAA

Klára Berzétey

Assistant to the Executive Director

Csanád Nagypál

Finance and IT Director

Annamária Sas

Program Officer

Izabella Hegedűs

Event Coordinator

György Kovács, Dr.

Leadership Member, HFAA

Máté Csanád, Dr.

Leadership Member, HFAA

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Fulbright Commission Hungary 1082 Budapest, Baross u. 62. Hungary I +36 1 462-­‐‑8040 I www.fulbright.hu

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