EGYETEMI ÉVFORDULÓK ÉS ÜNNEPLÉSÜK A MAGYAR FELSŐOKTATÁSBAN

In the XXth and XXIst centuries, Hungarian universities have experienced a tremendous transformation as a result of historical changes, and this transformation is still happening today. Not only have the names of the universities changed three or four times, but their organisational structure has also changed countless times. Several institutions have separated from their former universities, others have merged with other higher education institutions. In 2000, several integrated universities were established, but their departmental organisation has changed so many times since then, that it is very difficult to know when and from which institution each university counts its founding and when they have their anniversaries. Understanding the past of Hungarian higher education is also complicated by the fact that some of the predecessors of Hungarian universities were founded before the WWI in cities in now neighbouring countries. In the article below, after giving some examples from Europe, we summarise the changes that have taken place in the organisation of Hungarian universities dating back at least a century. We give a presentation about when and what foundations were celebrated by the Hungarian universities and what historical or more simple jubilee publications were published on these occasions. We also list the universities that have taken such care of their own past resources that have become university archives. Last but not least, we highlight the possible important university anniversaries in the near future.