On May 12, 2026, the 10th English Academic Student Conference was held at the Department of Philology of the Ferenc Rákóczi II Transcarpathian Hungarian University. The conference began in 2015 with a clear purpose: to provide a professional platform for students where they could synthesize their research in a foreign language, building a bridge between local Transcarpathian scholarship and the international academic stage. Since its inception, the conference has become a springtime tradition, held every May.
However, the conference has also faced serious challenges. In 2020, it was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2022 it was cancelled again because of the outbreak of the Russian–Ukrainian war. Despite these interruptions, the conference demonstrated remarkable adaptability. Recognizing the changing environment of higher education and the need for flexibility, the Department of Philology transitioned the conference to an online format starting in 2021. This shift has allowed to maintain our momentum and ensure that, regardless of physical proximity, the scholarly conversation continues uninterrupted.
What began in 2015 as a modest departmental gathering has now evolved into a forward-looking platform. Today, the conference stands as proof of Rákóczi University’s commitment to excellence. We are convinced that it serves as a valuable training ground for our students, and the confidence they gain here will accompany them to international symposia. At the same time, we are proud that this event demonstrates our ability to nurture competitive, multilingual intellectuals who can hold their own in the wider world even after graduation.
The 10th jubilee conference was opened by Professor Dr. habil. Anikó Beregszászi, Head of the Department of Philology. In her welcome speech, she emphasized the importance of the conference, which plays a significant role in fostering the next generation of scholars at our institution. Nothing proves this better than the fact that many former English majors, who first tested themselves at this conference, are now PhD students or colleagues at the department.
Three of our alumni (Annamária Kacsur, Krisztián Váradi, BA 2019 and MA 2021, PhD students at the University of Pannonia, Veszprém; Karolina Bárány, BA 2019, English teacher at JFS, London), who also debuted here as presenters, spoke about what the conference had given them and the advantages of participating. Through their own examples, they encouraged and motivated students to conduct research and present their results confidently at this student conference.
The organizing committee expressed its gratitude and presented certificates of appreciation to colleagues who, over the past ten years, have supported students’ successful research with their expertise and dedication, and who have encouraged and motivated them through their personal example in language pedagogy, linguistics, and literature studies.
Afterwards, the jury and the audience listened to the presentations of mainly second- and third-year English majors.
The results were as follows:
- 1st place: Krisztina Mohorita (supervisor: Dr. Enikő Nagy-Kolozsvári)
- 2nd place: Mirjám Sinkó (supervisor: Dr. Enikő Nagy-Kolozsvári)
- 3rd place: Bogdanka Talabira (supervisor: Dr. Enikő Nagy-Kolozsvári)
Congratulations to the winners!
Ilona Huszti, Ilona Lechner, Enikő Nagy-Kolozsvári,
members of the Organizing Committee
