The Pető András School at Semmelweis University, in collaboration with the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta, organized an engaging and insightful open day on December 1, 2023, as part of the Makovecz Scholarship Program. Participants included students and educators from the II. Rákóczi Ferenc Carpathian Hungarian College in Berehove.
Twenty students specializing in Teaching and Preschool Pedagogy traveled from Berehove for the event. Among the educators were Hutterer Éva, deputy head of department, Greba Ildikó, adjunct professor (special education teacher), and Csopák Éva, adjunct professor.
The aim of the Makovecz Scholarship Program is to facilitate student mobility and institutional networking, allowing participants to gain experience in organizing and implementing practices in Hungarian educational settings. Although the ukrainian college does not train specialized educators (such as conductors or special education teachers), it is essential for students to get familiar with institutions where special development activities take place.
During the program, participants first received general information about the characteristics of conductor training from Anna Fazekas and Judit László, conductors from the Centre of National and International Services. Followed by Dávid Kiss, lead conductor, who presented early development, while Erika Antoni Gáborné Henics, head of the Preschool Unit, emphasized the importance of preschool development.
Throughout the day, students took part in group visits, allowing them to directly observe the activities of preschool groups, inclusive preschool groups, and early development groups. After the practical sessions, Dr. Renáta Földesi, head of the Conductive Pedagogy Institute, delivered a lecture on András Pető, the institute’s history, and the conductive pedagogical approach. Acting head of department, Anna Fehér then spoke about the adult clinic.
The event concluded with Dr. László Matos, vice dean for education, presenting the educational offerings of the András Pető Faculty and highlighting opportunities for collaboration between the two institutions.
The open day not only enriched the knowledge of students in the field of conductor training but also contributed to deepening collaboration between the two institutions.