“Everything is given for a great summer school experience”

You have hosted every GTK Summer University so far, and you take the lion's share of the organisational tasks. What inspires you to do this year after year?

Perhaps most of all, it usually works very well. The students always have a great time, and the guest lecturers are always impressed. They say that the students are very bright, very active, so it's a pleasure to work with them. I remember one Friday closing day, around 8pm, I arrived at the Library Club (the bar on campus) in the sudden summer downpour, thoroughly soaked, to sign a contract with the DJ. There were about 15-20 students there, and the atmosphere was so good that for a moment I was distinctly sorry it was over.

Professor with a participant and BESU’s official t-shirt.

What kind of lecturers, activities and leisure activities do you offer? How will a day be spent?

We have returning instructors from abroad. Theocharis Grigoriadis from the Freie Universität Berlin, Enrico Baraldi from Uppsala, and Gabriele Tragschitz-Köck from Vienna have already taught a course here two years ago. This year, for the first time, Ilkka Ojansivu from the University of Oulu in Finland will be teaching with us, and so does Justin Paul, one of the world's most highly ranked researchers in business, whose publications and references are more like those of a complete business school than of a single individual. Two will be taught by ELTE staff members, and Business English is offered by a Hungarian language teacher also employed by the Language Centre at the University of Oxford.

As for the schedule, classes will start at 9:00 am and run until 1:15 pm with two breaks. There is always some kind of program in the afternoon or evening. Monday there is a reception, Tuesday a sightseeing tour, Friday a farewell karaoke. Wednesday and Thursday are still uncertain. We are waffling between options such as an evening talk, some kind of sports program, or a treasure hunt in the Castle.

Could you describe a course that would be particularly valuable for a foreign student? What can the summer university add to their professional development?

It is difficult to single out a single course. Personally, I would be most interested in the course by Theocharis Grigoriadis, because it teaches you how to think about climate change with an economist's mind, and if there is area of knowledge that is becoming increasingly important, it is this. Unfortunately, it requires background in statistics and econometrics, but in life, few good things come for free. Most courses do not correspond to standard undergraduate courses; so, they are very well suited to broadening students' perspectives.

On some administrative duties

What feedback have you received from students in previous years? How did the participants feel?

On the basis of course evaluation forms we have the students fill out last day after classes, the students are absolutely satisfied with the courses. In some courses all students give 5 (best grade in Hungary) as overall evaluation, in others we have two or three 4s. Enthusiastic comments like ‘Thank you Professor’, ‘Great course!’ outnumber the 4s. As for general evaluation of BESU, we can’t be as sure, since too few students fill out the online survey. Last year the net promoter score was 64 by international students, which was high, but not as high as I would like it to be. After all, everything is given for a great summer school experience: good teachers, an international body of highly motivated students, nice and well-equipped building, downtown location in a bustling city.

Please outline the application process! What do you need to do to participate in the Summer University?

International students may apply online through our website. They may also book accommodation in the university’s resident hall at the same time. Notifications about acceptance are normally sent out within a week. Thereafter students need to pay the participation fee and the accommodation fee within 10 days. What we require is solid academic performance and at least B2 level command of English. (Students must upload a transcript of grades plus proof of competence in English.)

Cheers in advance to this year’s BESU students!

Do participants receive credits after completing the course? How will they be recognised for their studies?

Yes, students may earn 3 ECTS credits by completing a BESU course and obtaining a grade. They receive an official transcript and a detailed course description, which they need to present at their home university. Each university has its own procedure, so students need to make inquiries at home. It happened once or twice that university needed something more, e.g. the instructor had to sign the course description; in such cases students can write to us and we provide what they need. 

Photos: Zoltán Csorba, Péter Horváth