Department of History

About the Department

The main goal of the Department of History of the Faculty of Education of the J. Selye University is to train well qualified professional teachers in history and humanities who are familiar with the Central European historical and cultural space. 

J. Selye University, which is located in Komárno, Slovakia, is a state university, sponsored both by the Slovak and the Hungarian governments. The courses at the Faculty of Education as well as at the Department of History are mostly and dominantly taught in Hungarian language, but we can run certain courses in Slovak, in English, and in German. 

The Department of History runs fully accredited bachelor courses, master courses, and we also run one PhD. course. The backbone of our bachelor´s training (Bc. level : Semester 1-6) is European history, the history of Hungary and Slovakia, the Cold War. The master (magister) training (Mgr. level : Semester 7-10) focuses on the 19th and 20th century history of the Central European region, and the issue of national minorities. The graduates of the Department of History can make a carrier as teachers of history (both on elementary school and secondary school level), museology specialists, media workers, tourist guides, etc. or work in various fields such as education, culture, and public administration. 

Since 2019, the Department of History runs a PhD. course in ,,History Didactics". This course aims at developing skills of a professional history teachers in order to cultivate historical culture, mainly in school environment but also outside of it. The base of the subject is taught at Masters level, and the Department of History offers this course on an even more specialised PhD program level. 

The scientific research of the Department of History is mainly oriented on the history of the Hungarian minority in Slovakia, the international relations during the Cold War, and the History Didactics.  

Our Department of History has had intensive contacts with renowned scientific institutions such as: the Historical Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the Historical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences Bratislava, the Forum Institute for Research of Minorities Šamorín, the Institute of Social Sciences of Slovak Academy of Science Department of History Košice, the Cold War History Research Center at the Corvinus Uniersity Budapest, the International Society for History Didactics, etc.

Members of the Department of History of the Faculty of Education of the J. Selye University:

Dr. habil. Attila Simon, PhD. – Head of the Department
Dr. habil. László Szarka, CSc.
Dr. habil. Árpád Popély, PhD.
Dr. habil. Barnabás Vajda, PhD.
Mgr. Balázs Csiba, PhD.

Scientific projects at the Department of History

The scientific research of the Department of History is mainly oriented on the history of the Hungarian minority in Slovakia, the international relations during the Cold War, and the History Didactics.  

Our Department has been involved in the following international scientific projects:

The Czechoslovak Republic and the Hungarian minority (1930–1938). VEGA project : 2/0023/12. Head of the project: Dr. habil Attila Simon, PhD. (project finished)

Forms of Political and Media Propaganda in Central Europe, Czecho-Slovakia and Hungary (1938-1968).  Vega project : 1/0158 /14. Head of the project: Dr. habil Barnabás Vajda, PhD. (project finished)

Reformed Church in Slovakia 1919-1952. VEGA project : 1/0528/16. Head of the project: Dr. habil Attila Simon, PhD.

Different forms of Freedom in a totalitarian state - political life, religion, tourism and media in (Czecho)Slovakia, Hungary and Eastern Europe 1938–1968. VEGA project: 2019 – 2021: 1/0163/19.  Head of the project: Dr. habil Barnabás Vajda, PhD.

“The Character to be from Komarno” (A „komáromiság”) (2018-2019) Subtitle: Changes of a phenomenon int he last 100 years. The project is sponsored by the scheme: ,,Domus szülőföld pályázat 2018” (run by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences) Leader of the Project: Liszka József. Core members of the scientific team: Gyurgyík László; L. Juhász Ilona; H. Nagy Péter; Keserű József; Simon Szabolcs; Strédl Terézia; Vajda Barnabás. Aims of the Project: The interdisciplinary research program is aimed at examining the local and national identities of the Hungarian and Slovakian population of Komárom (Slovakia). By using the methods of demography, statistics, sociolinguistics, media research, cultural history, European ethnology and cultural antropology, it researches how has the local and national identity of the town's population developed and changed over the past 100 years. It also points out the signs of these changes on the town's exterior and everyday life. Under the umbrella of the project as a whole, Barnabas Vajda’s contribution is this:  Apparent and hidden signs of remembrance – catalisators of the local and national identiy, incluing the remembrance of the state border regime in Komarno/Komarom during the Cold War times.

Post-Cold War Military Zones in central and Eastern Europe (2017-2021). The post-Cold War military zones in Central and Eastern Europe represent an interesting environment for social sciences. The presence and withdraval of the Soviet Army in large areas of Central and Eastern Europe and also activities of the Allied forces after 1989, have impacted both landscape and human communities in many different ways. 

Teachers

Head of Department:
Dr. habil. Attila Simon, PhD.

Professors:
Dr. habil. László Szarka, CSc.
Dr. habil. Attila Simon , PhD.

Associate Professors:
Dr. habil. Árpád Popély, PhD.
Dr. habil. Barnabás Vajda , PhD.

Assistant Professors:
Mgr. László Bese, PhD.

Internal PhD students:
Mgr. Bese László
Mgr. Nagy Tibor
Mgr. Engel Enikő
Mgr. Fekete Áron
Mgr. Varga Krisztína

External PhD students:
Szepessyné Judik Dorottya
Mgr. Korpás Árpád
PaedDr. Szabó László Dávid

Contact

Bc. Bartal Mária

e-mail:
tel.: 00421 (35) 3260 611
office: T313

News

Infrastructure of the study program

Spatial, material, and technical provision of the study programme History teacher training in combination and Didactics of history

a. List and characteristics of the  classrooms of the study programme and their technical equipment.

Education in the study programme History teacher training in combination and Didactics of history takes place in following classrooms of Faculty of Education J. Selye University:

T 109 (capacity: 30 people)
T 201 (capacity: 45 people)
T 213 (capacity: 25 people)
T 301 (capacity: 40 people)
T 402 (capacity: 34 people)
T501 (capacity: 42 people)
T506 (capacity: 25 people)

Each classroom is equipped with presentation techniques. An interactive board can be found in the classroom T 109. The classroom T201 serves as specialized classroom for student of study programme. The equipment includes: historical maps, library of the department, posters.

b.  Characteristics of the study programme information management (access to study literature according to Course information sheets, access to information databases and other information sources, information technologies, etc.). 

The university library provides physical access to the literature for the study programme, at least to the extent of the compulsory literature listed in the course information sheets. The library uses the DAWINCI library information system, which is a modern library information system that integrates the latest elements from server applications, database systems, document management and, in conjunction with library knowledge and experience, transforms them into a comprehensive multimedia library system. Since 2006, the University Library JSU has also used this library information system to manage the library collection, manage loans and admin system of publication activities. The system provides users with access to individual library collections through the OPAC Online catalogue via the website. The University Library of JSU just like other university libraries, is involved in the central register of the admin system of publication activities for the needs of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Slovak Republic. Access of students and teachers to the necessary databases is also solved by remote access via CVTI SR. This approach provides access to foreign scientific journals available in the online databases of individual publishers. The university library organizes workshops that support orientation in publication databases and work with literary sources.

c. Characteristics and extent of distance education applied in the study programme with the assignment to courses. Accesses, manuals of e-learning portals. Procedures for the transition from contact teaching to distance learning. 

For the needs of distance education or education by a combined method, the university has 4 BigBlueButton video conference servers in operation. An alternative tool for distance learning is the MS Teams platform, as part of the Office 365 A1 for faculty package, which is available to all teachers and students.  In 2015, an e-learning system based on the open-source LMS Moodle was created and put into operation at JSU. Moodle continues to offer the possibility of publishing study and additional materials for individual courses, the possibility of assigning homework and electronic testing of knowledge in the authorised zone. In addition to the possibility of cable connection, which is available in the halls of residence, UL and other selected places, students in all JSU buildings have access to the Internet via WiFi connectivity. The person's authentication (login name and password) is required to connect to the network. In 2016, a centralized print system was introduced, which is also available to students.  

d. Institution partners in providing educational activities for the study programme and the characteristics of their participation.

Main institution partners in providing educational activities for the study programme are practising schools and kindergartens which contribute the pedagogical praxis for students of study programme as trainee teachers.

The Faculty of Education is in collaboration with more than 30 practising schools and kindergartens in Slovakia. There are practising schools not only in Komárno, but in Dunajská Streda, Veľký Meder, Galanta, Nové Zámky, Rožňava, Kráľovský Chlmec, Bratislava, Šahy, Štúrovo, Veľké Kapušany, Kolárovo and Rimavská Sobota as well.

In the course of pedagogical praxis students observe and analyse the process of education, learn how to apply theoretical knowledge, and acquire essential skills for the pedagogical profession.

e. Characteristics of the possibilities for social, sports, cultural, spiritual and social activities.

The conditions of providing scholarships from the state budget as well as from JSU's own resources are regulated by the JSU Scholarship Rules and Regulations. During their studies, JSU also provides its students with a stimulating environment. JSU effectively manages and operates JSU Halls of Residence (Dormitories), where it provides comfortable accommodation to university students with suitable conditions for quality housing with adequate hygienic standards and safety.  In the area of the Halls of Residence there is a multifunctional sports ground enabling students to meaningfully spend their free time and play sports. JSU also provides students with catering services in the building of the JSU Conference Centre.  In the university’s Sports Centre, students have the opportunity to play sports and carry out other leisure activities. 

The university also aims to provide opportunities for cultural, social and spiritual activities.   Young talents will find their place in the Cantus Iuventus choir. Students also have the opportunity to visit a chapel established in the Čajka Hall of Residence.

f. Possibilities and conditions for participation of the study programme students in mobilities and internships (indicating contact details), application instructions, rules for recognition of this education. 

J. Selye University offers its students foreign student mobility opportunities within the mobility programmes Erasmus+, Makovecz and CEEPUS.

The Unit for International Relations of Rector´s Office in cooperation with the faculties of JSU regularly organizes information Erasmus+ days and workshops and offers the possibility of personal or online consultations. Promotional materials, leaflets and brochures are distributed to JSU students. At the same time, the Unit for International Relations of Rector´s Office regularly publishes information on its activities on the website and shares information to students, teachers and employees of JSU through the information tools of the university.

Partner institutions
https://www.ujs.sk/en/international-activities/our-partner-institutions.html

Erasmus+
http://erasmus.ujs.sk/en

Other mobility programs
https://www.ujs.sk/en/international-activities/other-mobility-programmes.html

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