The history of the Faculty of Pedagogy begins in 1950, when a state secondary school was established for the purpose of training primary school teachers. This school became a higher education institute on 1 September 1989 and received the rank of college in 1975, adopting the name Csokonai Vitéz Mihály Teachers’ Training College. In this incarnation the college continued training primary school teachers and expanded its programs to include training for kindergarten teachers. On 1 January 2000 Kaposvár University integrated the college as its faculty of pedagogy. Its education programmes have been expanding steadily ever since. In the 2004/2005 academic year, the faculty occupied a new building equipped with the facilities and tools to provide top-notch instruction. Its lecture halls, labs, seminar rooms are of the highest 21st century standards and it lies in a convenient and fascinating area of the university campus. Since 1 September 2009 it has been working as a university faculty under the name Faculty of Pedagogy.
The faculty offers training in three areas of science: pedagogy (kindergarten teacher, primary school teacher, teacher of special-needs children), social science (computer-based library science), and humanities (andragogy, Hungarian language and literature). It also provides vocational higher education programmes (youth care, special tourism management, infant and child care, head of secretariat training, community activity planning, training assistance, specialization in catering). The members of the staff provide theoretical and practical training at the highest standard. They encourage and assist students in gaining special knowledge, acquiring foundations in scientific work, and learning through practical experience at home and abroad. The knowledge students acquire during their years of study greatly enhances their competitive edge in the workplace. The instructors and instruction from the Faculty of Pedagogy have helped launch many students in successful jobs or into a continuation of their studies in an MA programme.
The faculty maintains good relations with institutions in many EU member countries and participates in student and staff exchange, training, and research programmes with Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, and Great Britain. Based on bilateral contracts, these programs have been running successfully for years with excellent results for students. Those studying foreign language and culture are encouraged to hone their skills in month-long intensive studies abroad.
Practical training
Students on their way to becoming kindergarten or primary education teachers will receive practical training in the university’s kindergarten and school or in other municipal institutions partnered with the faculty.
Undergraduates learning computer-based library science can get early experience at the university’s library or in public libraries maintained by the local authority.
Students of andragogy get the hang of their future profession in the town’s and the region’s adult-education institutes in the course of their studies.
Prospective teachers of special-needs children obtain their practical training in well-equipped institutions employingdistinguished specialists in Kaposvár (Bárczi Gusztáv Kindergarten, Primary School, Special Vocational School,
Methodology Centre and Educational Advice Centre; Duráczky József Pedagogy Development and Methodology Centre) and in numerous other institutes throughout Somogy, Tolna, and Baranya counties.
What to do after graduation?
Graduates of Kaposvár University's Faculty of Pedagogy have gone on to become respected specialists in their fields. The support and encouragement of staff and the excellent relationships Kaposvár University maintains with other institutions in Hungary and abroad give alumni distinct advantages in competitive job markets. Men and women who pass through its vocational trainings are among the most respected and sought-after employees in the regional job market. Members of the vocational school have become managers, infant and child-care specialists, heads of secretariat, youth-care coordinators, community activity planners, training assistants, and catering specialists.
Did you know?
Undergraduates studying in one major have the opportunity to augment their education with a minor of up to 50 class credits. (minors may include andragogy, computer-based library science, catechist-assistant clerical studies, Hungarian language and literature, or specialist training in management administration) With the accomplishment of the coursework in a minor, students may meet the requirements for a master course in that field of study. Students with a minor who do not intend to apply for master courses still acquire useful professional competence and accreditation in an additional field.
Our faculty participates in the international programmes ERASMUS, COMENIUS, and LEONARDO and runs the Centre for Advanced Language Learning of the Eötvös Lorand University (ELTE ITK), organizing accredited language exams. Written exams for professional certification can be taken in all of the languages offered by ELTE ITK, and oral examinations are offered in English, German, Italian, and Russian.
Research at the faculty
An ever-rising number of the staff have acquired the highest degrees and honors available in their fields. Several are original members or consultants at the doctoral schools of partner institutes. They publish research results in national and international journals and periodicals and have lately published numerous books in both Hungarian and English. The Faculty of Pedagogy, in partnership with the Benedek Elek Faculty of Pedagogy of University of West Hungary in Sopron, publishes an independent periodical “Képzés és Gyakorlat” (Training and Practice), a forum for the presentation of cutting-edge research in pedagogy. Its high standard is maintained by an editorial board consisting of tutors of the two faculties in conference with an international advisory board. http://trainingandpractice.gportal.hu/
Plans, future prospects
The Faculty of Pedagogy has undertaken the challenge of constantly updating its course offerings to meet changing demands in the labour market. It is constantly launching new basic training academic specialisations (most recently an infant and child care BA, a free humanities BA, and an international studies BA), and getting accreditation for new master courses (e.g., the teacher training master course).
Kaposvár University's vocational trainings will soon include an archivist/filing-clerk higher vocational training.
The Somogy Scholar Club
The Somogy Scholar Club was established in Kaposvár in 1985. At the time a local newspaper wrote, under the headline “Scholar Club formed in Kaposvár” that, “A Scholar Club was formed in the House of Technique in Kaposvár yesterday. Its tasks will be to provide facilities so that specialists with scientific degrees, researchers working in different fields in the county, and young people willing to do research can exchange their views.
Club members wish to contribute to the county’s universal development and take every opportunity to get acquainted with the national situation and endeavours in certain disciplines with the help of well-known specialists.”
Since its founding, the club has hosted lectures from many members of the community who hold scientific degrees and from renowned guest lecturers.
78 lectures were given in different areas of science between 12 January 2001 and September 2009.
Social sciences: 49 lectures
Natural sciences: 24 lectures
Scientific lectures in connection with Arts: 5 lectures
breakdown by lecturers' academic qualification:
Academician: 4 lecturers
Member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences: 8 lecturers
Habilitated doctor: 6 lecturers
Candidate of science: 10 lecturers
PhD (DLA): 16 lecturers
Doctoral degree: 7 lecturers
altogether: 51 lecturers
Contact information of present chairman of the Somogy Scholar Club:
Prof. Dr. habil. István Rosta Head of Department
Kaposvár University, 7400 Kaposvár, Guba Sándor u. 40. Phone: +36/82/505-893.
Project in process
LEONARDO DA VINCI
Life Long Learning Programme
2008-2010
MODEVAL2
The reference of the project: LLP-LdV-TOI-2008-FR-117044
Participating countries: Denmark Aalborg University, France Agora, Lumiere University Lyon PsyEF, Radar-B, Greece University of the Aegean, Hungary: Hungarian Radio, Kaposvár University FP., Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology., Germany Thuringia University
Participants: Dr. Szilvia Nemes Kis PhD, Gyöngyi Sajtos Csendes
Objectives of the programme:
To compile a handbook on useful measuring devices, to move toward the preparation of a system for measuring basic abilities, and to compile four modules facilitating the usage and development of measuring devices.
http://www.modeval.org
Dr. Katalin Hajdics Varga:
She has been the speaker of INTERSTENO (International Federation for Information Processing) since 2001, specializing in the following topics:
H-7400 Kaposvár, Guba Sándor u. 40. | PO box: 16. | Phone: +36 82 505 800, +36 82 505 900 | international@ke.hu
