Digital education: not at every Hungarian university? – All details below!

We have received a lot of emails recently from foreign students living in Hungary. They complain that even though the government ordered all universities to teach online, their institutions did not oblige. Therefore, they still have to take part in face-to-face classes. We searched for the answers which you can read below. 

One of the email writers complained that the teaching at the Faculty of Dentistry in Szeged did not go online, by which the leadership of the institution endangers the students. “What is interesting here, is that most of the teachers in the dentistry faculty got the Covid-19 test, and they were positive, and still with this situation going on, they’re opening the faculty again in order to spread the virus more and more and once again supporting the fact that 

the life of international students means nothing to them. 

I sincerely ask you to report this article so that the people of Hungary understand what is going on here and instead of putting the blame on internationals, blame these amazingly stupid people that are in charge to make these kinds of decisions,” the foreign student wrote in his letter.

According to Telex, not all universities can teach online because some faculties need to develop skills and abilities for which in-person classes are inevitable. That is why, for example, the Semmelweis Medical University also remained in the hybrid teaching system and allows its students to remain in their dormitories as well.

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They can do so because even though PM Viktor Orbán said on Monday that all universities had to switch back to online teaching, there are exceptions.

The rectors of the institutions can ask special permission from the minister responsible for higher education to hold face-to-face classes.

For example, the rector of the University of Szeged, Béla Merkely, did so and received the document. The university said that they can move some parts of teaching medicine online, but there are some classes that require the presence of the students. Therefore, the lectures are online, while some practice classes are still offline. Furthermore, the university is going to organise the state and some practical exams at the university as well. That creates difficulties for some students because sometimes it happens that their lecture finishes only 15 minutes before the start of a practical class. Provided they do not have unlimited mobile internet access, it is a great difficulty to take part in both of them since all places where there is a quick enough Internet connection are closed. As a result, many students go to university and sit in the corridors. That practice, however, can also become a hotbed for the virus.

In the case of the University of Szeged, the ministry has not issued the relevant document yet. 

The director of education said that they plan to hold face to face classes only if they are inevitable. Only those students can remain in the dormitories who have to attend classes or take part in research projects.

Source: telex.hu