System of national education
School education
Compulsory school education in Hungary lasts until the age of 16, beginning with elementary school education. Elementary school is attended for 4-10 years depending on the structure of further education which pupils may choose and afterwards pupils may chose from the following types of schools.:
general secondary schools (grammar school awarding a senior secondary school leaving certificate) lasting 4,6 or 8 years depending on the structure of secondary education;
specialised secondary schools awarding a senior secondary school leaving certificate; vocational schools (3 years) after 8 years of elementary schooling and schools offering general further education (2 years).
Higher education
The legislative basis for the higher education system in Hungary is provided by the Higher Education Act adopted in July 1993.
The Hungarian higher education system consists of universities and colleges. (The latter have been organised after the German Fachhochschulen.) This binary system has developed in response to the demand for training that met practical needs in contrast to the longer and more theoretical courses offered by the universities. Consequently, universities generally provide a high standard of theoretical knowledge, and colleges offer more practical and generally shorter courses. In the early 1990's, a number of church-run higher education institutions were established and they offer subjects other than theological (e.g. teacher training; business administration) in an increasing number.
At present there are 89 higher education institutions, of which 30 are universities (25 state-run, and 5 church-run) and 59 colleges (32 state-run, 23 church-run and 4 run by foundations).
The university provides in several fields of sciences/humanities and branches of knowledge graduate education of at least four years, it must provide general and specialised postgraduate , doctoral and post-doctoral studies; it has the right to grant the Ph.D. degree, and to conduct the habilitation procedure. The full professors must have their Ph.D. degree and their habilitation, their Associate Professors (Readers) must have their Ph.D. degree. The university must dispose of the necessary personnel and practical means to meet the above requirements.
The college provides in several fields of sciences/humanities graduate education and branches of knowledge graduate education for at least three years, it must provide general and specialised further education, and carry on research and development activities. Their full professors must have a Ph.D. degree. The college must dispose of the necessary personnel and practical means to meet the above requirements.
University and college education can be conducted side by side within the same institution and can be supported by ventures intern institutions to provide in-service assistance. Within the frame of a higher education institution a secondary school may operate as well: e.g. a so-called teacher training school ; and within the frame of a medical university an instruction hospital may function.
Foreign higher education institutions may also operate in Hungary and may issue foreign degrees providing that these are recognised by the state in their home country and/or are accredited and the degrees issued by them are also officially recognised. The approval of the Minister of Culture and Education is also required for the operation of such institutions.
Hungarian higher education institutions are autonomous under the Higher Education Act of September 1st, 1993. Direct legal supervision is exercised by the Ministry of Education with the exception of military and police education institutions whose supervision is exercised by the Minister of National Defence and the Minister of the Interior respectively. The Minister is helped in his work by the under-secretary for higher education. Local governments have no role whatsoever in the supervision of higher education institutions. Responsibility for the activities of the non-state higher education institutions lies with the Ministry of Education. The higher institutions’ interests are represented by three national conferences: the Hungarian Rectors’ Conference, the Hungarian Conference of College Directors and the Chair of Rectors of Academies of Art and Music.
The Higher Education and Research Council is the most important organ of higher education development issues. It acts as an advisory body to the Ministry of Culture and Education through advice, preparing decisions, and stating opinions related to higher education and scientific research. The preparing of decisions by the subcommittees of the Council focuses primarily on putting forward recommendations on the financing of the development of higher education, its institutions, training and scientific research. The Secretariat of the Council co-ordinates the activities of the Office of the National Credit Council, and that of the Basic Higher Education Developmental Programmes.
The Hungarian Accreditation Committee was set up by the Government to monitor continuously the standard of education and scientific activity in higher education, to perform ratings and to support quality assurance assents to doctoral programmes, adopts a standpoint on matters involving the quality of higher education in accordance with the Higher Education Act. At the request of the Minister of Culture and Education can express an opinion on the establishment and/or recognition of a higher education institution or association, the establishment or recognition of a faculty, the qualification requirements, gives its assent to start a major in graduate or specialised postgraduate education, , and on the doctoral or habilitation regulations of a university.
ABOUT ENIC HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM SYSTEM OF NATIONAL EDUCATION ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK CREDENTIAL EVALUATION
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