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BIP_2022 – Intercultural Dialogue through Stories
1 April (online day), 4-8 April (in-person programme in Vác)
AVCC organised a short-term blended intensive programme (BIP), which consisted of a five-day workshop with physical presence in Vác (4-8 April) preceded by a day of virtual learning (1 April). The colourful and interactive programme focused on the theme of Intercultural Dialogue through Stories.
The aim of the programme was to enhance students’ awareness of the values represented by their own institutions, local regions, traditions and cultures, to better understand and appreciate the cultural identity of others by way of differentiated workshop tasks, cultural visits and activities centred around a wealth of stories.
The week hopefully contributed to the personal and professional development of the students through creative and collaborative exercises and learning activities outside the classroom.
Photo: Egyedné Simon Valéria
Christmas Party
A Christmas Party was organised by the Department of Foreign Languages and the International Office 1 December 2021. This year the venue was unusual as the party was held in the yard. Interested participants were welcomed with a steaming hot cup of apple cider. And we were happy that Santa Claus visited us! Students’ carol-singing, a German winter poem and Christmas riddles contributed to the holiday cheer; the gospel reflections of our College Chaplain as well as the Nativity Scene sung by students helped us in our spiritual preparation for the holiday.
Photo: Nagy Sándor
International Café
An International Café was organised by the International Office and the Department of Foreign Languages at Apor Vilmos Catholic College on 17 November 2021. The event attracted a good number of interested students and staff, who heard a summary of the College’s Erasmus+ Term of spring 2021, received information about the new plans for internationalisation and about the opportunities offered by the Erasmus+ and Makovecz Programmes. Attendees of the Café were also given colourful accounts of student and teacher mobilities and saw a variety of students’ projects on how they would represent their Apor identity in a multicultural setting. The Café concluded with a quiz game.
International Week at Apor Vilmos Catholic College 12-16 April 2021
AVCC organised its traditional spring International Week focusing on Creativity, Critical Thinking, Cooperation and Communication. Due to the pandemic the programme was held online attracting students from Belgium, the UK, Germany and Poland.
Monday was, as usual, a welcome day when participants got acquainted, heard about the BA and MA programmes from the host students and about life at our college. They got a foretaste of the Wednesday workshops, and were given special assignments to deal with on the next day. On Tuesday the students gathered in international groups and worked on their projects. Our Belgian and Polish Erasmus students also took their share in managing the programme of the Week as mentor students.
On the online workshop day of Wednesday the floor was open for interactive talks on a variety of topics, such as the role of family narratives shaping identity; imitation, invention and innovation in contemporary Hungarian literature; social integration of Dutch and Polish immigrants in Hungary; the origin, meaning and use of English and Hungarian proverbs. We could also get a glimpse of the English language education in Transcarpathian Beregszász. Thursday morning was allocated for more group work, and in the afternoon, the students presented their online products based on the workshop topics. The creative approaches of the students, the use of drama, rhythm, animation and the resourceful implementation of Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences made the final session of the week a fun and colourful event.
The virtual Week was also a technical challenge. Google Classroom was the common platform of the Week, which provided opportunities both for plenary and parallel sessions. Students could work in virtual discussion groups, had access to materials under the headings of the workshops. Other online tools like Padlet, QUIZIZZ etc. and a wealth of materials shared all helped to bridge the difficulties of virtual communication.
An International Week is always a meeting point. A hilarious Welcome Evening, a Hungarian scones-baking Cook with Katie, the Budapest cultural programmes on Tuesday night as well as the group work offered opportunities for international students to enjoy themselves, mix with others and lay the foundations of future professional relationships.
Erasmus+ Semester February-April 2021
In the spring semester of the academic year of 2020/21 AVCC had international students from Belgium and Poland. A peculiarity of the term was that it was carried out during the lockdown; the whole semester was held online. Though both teachers and students missed the face-to-face contact, teachers appreciated that the students were always attentively present despite their personal problems (e.g. quarantine). The openness of the students, their readiness for discussions helped to overcome the challenges and difficulties posed by online education. Teachers could even take advantage of online education when applying team teaching. As, despite the lockdown, our Belgian and Polish students chose to stay in Budapest, they had the opportunity to meet other Erasmus students, and they were resourceful in planning different outdoor programmes. In the International Week the Erasmus students took part as mentors to the other participants. The Erasmus courses were also offered for the Hungarian students as optional courses, and according to their feedback, it was really beneficial for them as well.
Learning, Invention and Creativity: Rethinking Local and Global Education
Online International Conference organised by Apor Vilmos Catholic College and the University of Winchester
On 11 March 2021 Apor Vilmos Catholic College together with the University of Winchester organised an online international conference entitled Learning, Invention and Creativity: Rethinking Local and Global Education on Teams. The objective of the conference was to provide a platform for European educational institutions to discuss topical issues, to share good practice and innovative methodological approach and to strengthen international relationships. A good number of the lectures in the field of local and global education focused on the changes brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic – among others, the expansion of hybrid and online education, the difficulties in students’ practical training and the rise of virtual forms among international projects.
Lecturers and students of teacher training schools, heads of foundation educational institutions gave compelling presentations from different European countries. Hungarian (from Hungary and Transcarpathia), British, Belgian, Danish delegates shared their research results and experiences relevant to the topic encouraging the international audience to collective reflection. Based on the feedbacks, the conference has proved successful offering a varied and meaningful programme.
Storytelling Project in Winchester – Students’ Report
Every year since 2015 a project week is organised in Winchester as a part of the Winchester Tale Project based on two optional courses (Storytelling Course, Art and Craft Drama Course).
This year with the support of two teachers – Ágnes Bethlenfalvyné dr. Sreitmann in the preparation phase and Andrea Székely both before and during the project week – a group of five students – Eszter Boros, Krisztina Juhász, Eszter Kovács, Ágota Marczin and Katalin Ritz – travelled to the UK.
Dear Partners,
We should inform you that due to the present situation caused by the spread of the Coronavirus, Apor Vilmos Catholic College has decided to cancel the International Week planned to be held in April (20th-24th). Actually, we cancel it only for the spring term, and we would like to hold it in the autumn term of the next academic year. We hope that until then everything goes back to normal again, and we can meet in Vác.
Kind regards,
Agnes Streitmann PhD
Head of the International Office
Apor Vilmos Catholic College
Rector’s official letter
March 11, 2020
Information on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak
In light of the fact, that on 4th March, 2020 the new CoVid-19 has verifiably reached Hungary as well, the following provisions and recommendations were issued:
- Considering the govermental measures the Rector of Apor Vilmos Catholic College has decided to impose a ban on attendance at the college for 2 weeks from 12th March, 2020. Students’ placement is also suspended during this period. From now on education can only be conducted in the form of distance education.
- Those students and lecturers, who are currently abroad are ordered to refrain from attending the University premises and events for a period of 14 days after their return to Hungary. (Their absence shall be regarded as justified).
- Each student, lecturer and colleague of ours shall advise and alert each other to comply with above regulation.
- College lecturers and employees are instructed not to travel abroad as from today until April 15th 2020. In accordance with this regulation the lecturers were requested to cancel their conference participation abroad.
- Mobility and travel for students engaged in international mobility programs shall be suspended until April 15th 2020.
- International conferences planned until April 15th 2020 with foreign participants at our college shall be cancelled.
- Lecturers shall coordinate with foreign guest professors invited by them regarding the cancellation of their visit to our University.
- National conferences with up to thirty participants may be organized until April 15th 2020, whereas conferences exceeding this number of participants must be cancelled.
- Please note, that non-contact sanitizer dispensers were placed to the entrances of every college building. The cleaning staff shall regularly disinfect door latches.
- Each college member is obliged to comply with the fundamental hygienic rules and to handle the intensified social sensitivity related to the spreading of the new CoVid-19 in a reasonable manner.
- The process set out by the Hungarian National Public Health Center must be followed in each case: https://www.nnk.gov.hu/index.php/lakossagi-tajekoztatok/koronavirus/534-coronavirus-disease-covid-19-faq
- In case of experiencing the symptoms of fever and coughing, call your GP (local doctor) or the indicated national hotline of the Hungarian National Public Health Center + 36-80-277-455 or +36-80-277-456 free of charge.
- The Hungarian Catholic Bishops’ Conference has issued provisions related to personal hygiene in churches, including refraining from handshake during Holy Mass ceremony. Priests are instructed to distribute Holy Communion only into hands, and to empty Holy Water stoups in churches.
- International students may contact the International Office via email at erasmus@avkf.hu to find out more about safety measures and updated news concerning the situation in Hungary.
- Our mesures can be changed if the government require further restrictions.
Vác, 2020.03.11.
Józsefné Libor, PhD
Rector
Comenius Association Autumn Meeting
This academic year the autumn meeting of the Comenius Association (CA) was organized by the University College of Teacher Education Styria in Graz. AVCC was represented by Agnes Streitmann, vice rector for intercultural affairs, and Bill McBrayer, lecturer at the Department of Foreign Languages.
On 30 September Jacob Clausen, a lecturer from University College Copenhagen gave a talk on Social Education and the role of pedagogues in Denmark.
