5. Centre for Hungarian and Central European Studies

Hungary is located at the geometrical Centre of Europe, at the heart of centuries of political and cultural activity. In the more recent cold war era Hungary was a part of the Soviet Block, and thus the study of its political and cultural activity was naturally viewed as a minor component of Russian policy. With the transition from Soviet domination, it is clear that Central Europe is being reshaped by the political, economic and cultural realities that differentiate it both from the West and from Eastern Europe. At hand is an important historical opportunity to harness the unique characteristics of this region and the consequent need to distinguish between Eastern and Central European studies. The University of Toronto already houses a Centre for Russian and Eastern European Studies (CREES) which has dealt with peripheral Hungarian issues, however, an extension of the HRIC’s activities to be housed in a Centre for Hungarian and Central European Studies is crucial to ensure that the important role of the HRIC continues to develop into the Millennium and Beyond.

Essentially, the Centre for Hungarian and Central European Studies would house the departmental Chair for Hungarian studies, which, along with the curriculum (possibly with the establishment of degree programs), and HRIC’s activities, would expand to include the study of Central Europe. Activities of the Centre would focus principally on Hungary and its neighbouring countries within Central Europe, complimenting those of CREES. Unlike CREES, however, the Centre for Hungarian and Central European Studies would seek to extend its academic interests multilaterally to all centres of higher learning in Hungary and throughout Central Europe. We are convinced and diligent in our pursuit not to restrict partnership only with the Central European Universities (as is the case with CREES), but to build bridges with all worthy institutions of higher education, creating equal partnership and greater opportunity for exchange between Canadian, Hungarian, and other Central European schools. There is a great urgency to establish such partnerships as current policy does not warrant acceptance or recognition of credits or semesters of study in Hungary for completion or further study in many similar or identical Canadian institutions. It is crucial that a true exchange of our best resource — education — takes place to the mutual benefit of Hungary, Canada, and other Central European institutions of higher learning.

Within the scope of the HRIC’s academic initiatives, the Centre would house in accordance with the initiatives outlined above an expanded Visiting Statesmen and Scholars Lectureship Program, an augmented series of Conferences, Seminars and Lectures, an enhanced Undergraduate and Graduate Scholarship Fund, and Grants-in-aid for Publication, but would also function in a capacity not strictly academic in providing services to businesses in Canada, Hungary and elsewhere in Central Europe in the development of an information database. Such a database would serve as a basis for the exchange of ideas and opportunities, providing Canadian companies in particular a valuable point of contact and easier access to invest in Hungarian and other Central European businesses.