On November 12-13, 2024, the second study trip of the project “Supporting inclusive learning environments – strategies for supporting students with children and families in higher education” (2023-1-HU01-KA220-HED-000156058) took place in Komárom, organized by Selye János University. During the international meeting, representatives of the higher education institutions participating in the program and the coordinating organization reviewed the current status of the program, discussed and shared experiences gained during previous activities, and coordinated and harmonized tasks and events for the near future.
REMINDER
Project: “Supporting inclusive learning environments – strategies for supporting students with children and families in higher education” (2023-1-HU01-KA220-HED-000156058)
International partner meeting – János Selye University, 12-13 November 2024.
Reformed Theological Faculty, Komárom
TUESDAY, 12 NOVEMBER 2024
The program began at noon on November 12, 2024, in Komárom’s main square. After a joint lunch, participants took part in a sightseeing tour of the Komárom Fortress, followed by a visit to the central building of Selye János University in the city center.
- WELCOME SPEECH BY THE HEAD OF THE PROGRAM – In his welcome speech, Dean Dr. ALFRÉD SOMOGYI briefly presented the history of Selye János University, the courses offered within the framework of the university, and the previous and current Erasmus programs implemented with the university’s participation..
- RESEARCH MANAGER’S REPORT – In his presentation, Research Manager BÁLINT DURÁCZKY briefly reviewed the research activities that are central to the program and emphasized that, despite some delays compared to the original schedule, the research activities that began in February-March 2024 are now proceeding according to the original schedule. As a result of the focus group research activities, the toolkit document was completed by September 2024, with a deadline for comments of November 15, 2024. The document was prepared on the basis of information gathered during focus group interviews with higher education students who are parents and are raising children, with the aim of developing a toolkit for the implementation of the program. The document was developed based on information gathered during focus group interviews with higher education students who are parents, with the aim of helping institutions, and especially educators, to understand and effectively support students who are parents, and thus contribute to the creation of more flexible and inclusive higher education environments.
As the next element of the program, he highlighted the testing period for the completed toolkit: student opinions and feedback from teachers and institutions will be collected through qualitative data collection at partner institutions between November 18, 2024, and April 15, 2025, over a period of 15 weeks. The selected teachers (7 at Károli Gáspár University and 5 at the other partner institutions) will keep test logs of the testing activities. These documents will be used to compile a set of recommendations, which will be compiled in a broad interpretative context, applying the perspective of students with families.
Following the testing period, interviews with the teachers will be conducted, and the experiences and results of the test logs will be used in this research phase.
- COMMENTS FROM PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS RELATED TO THE RESEARCH PROGRAM
Following the research leader’s presentation, representatives of partner organizations provided their comments. The comments and suggestions mainly concerned the practical application of the toolkit elements and the discussion of related ideas, suggestions, and experiences.
ALFRÉD SOMOGYI asked about the selection criteria for the instructors designated during the testing phase, while ÉVA SZTÁRAYNÉ KÉZDY (Károli Gáspár Reformed University) emphasized the need for a formal set of rules for administration, stressing that a fundamental problem that has emerged in research to date is that the target group under study does not appear in any form in the current higher education databases. In her opinion, data collection activities could be used to record family status as part of the enrollment process.
In connection with this, RITA HEGEDÜS (Selye János University) expressed her opinion that any such regulation would entail amendments to the study and examination regulations.
In response to the comments, BÁLINT DURÁCZKY informed those interested that the test group would be selected from the widest possible range of teachers, from both full-time and part-time departments. With regard to the more precise identification of the target group, the possibility of a voluntary declaration among the participants was raised, taking into account that institutional regulatory activities would not necessarily solve the existing problem. He added to his previous information that, during the week of November 18, 2024, as part of the next program element, institutional data requests will also be made in addition to the toolkit, and researchers expect to receive the requested data by February 28, 2024.
- COORDINATION OF JOINT AND INDIVIDUAL PUBLICATIONS RELATED TO RESEARCH RESULTS
As the last item on the agenda for the first day of the study trip, representatives of the partner organizations reviewed and discussed issues related to joint and individual publications associated with the project.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2024
- ADMINISTRATIVE FINANCIAL INFORMATION – COORDINATOR BRIEFING AND COORDINATION
On November 13, 2024, starting at 9:30 a.m., representatives of the coordinating organization and partner organizations reviewed issues arising during financial administration, with a focus on accountability and reporting, as well as communication and dissemination obligations. As part of the consultation, ÖRS LEVENTE KOVÁCS gave a short presentation on the latest developments and updates to the program website, and the document upload and chat services were also reviewed.
During the financial and administrative consultation, representatives of the partner organizations (SOMOGYI ALFRÉD/ Selye János University in Komárom, SZILÁGYI LÁSZLÓ/ II. Rákóczi Ferenc Hungarian College of Transcarpathia in Beregszász, ÁGNES SÁNTHA/ Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania in Târgu Mureș, and, via online connection, the representative of Károli Gáspár Reformed University) briefly summarized the current situation of financial administration, and personal consultations were also held with the financial manager of the coordinating organization, EMŐKE SZALLER.
Prepared by: Örs Levente Kovács
Program Coordinator
Budapest, November 22, 2024