Business Degree Programs in Central Europe - History of Business Degree Programs at The Faculty of Business and Economics

History of Business Degree Programs At The Faculty of Business and Economics

The Faculty of Business and Economics of the University of Pécs (legal predecessor: Janus Pannonius University) was established in 1970 as a filial of Karl Marx University of Economics in Budapest. The Faculty became a legally separate entity in 1975 when it became a Faculty of Janus Pannonius University. The Faculty’s operation continued successfully and it became the second largest school of business and economics. The focus of teaching and research though was from the beginning on business, economics was and is rigorously taught but as basis and not the main focus.

After transition in 1990 the Faculty started to develop fast and also started to build international relations both in Europe and in the United States. Movement of lecturers and students started to become quite common and new needs emerged in the economy.

The BA in Business Administration Program (BABA) was launched in September 1996 by the Faculty of Business and Economics of the University of Pécs The principal rationale for the development of an English Language taught Business Administration Program was twofold.

On side the Faculty of Business and Economics had for the 21 years of its existence had offered a five year Business Studies degree (that could be regarded as undergraduate and graduate program combination) taught in Hungarian, and the BABA Program was part of a long line of innovative degree courses offered by the Faculty of Business and Economics to maintain its position as market leader in the Hungarian educational market place. Furthermore, in line with the University of Pécs and the Faculty’s interest in widening student experience and promoting links with overseas institutions, the Faculty offered opportunities for students to study either in Europe or North America, on a learner exchange basis with other English Language based Programs. These opportunities were either European Union based, such as the TEMPUS and later the Erasmus Programs, or were US based, such as the relationship with Ohio University. Pécs both sent students to study at Ohio University or received students from above for shorter Programs such as the Global Competitiveness Program. This program is an innovative approach towards teaching at Ohio University when they send students’ groups abroad to several countries to work together with students of the host country and to solve real – life business problems together. Pécs received these students continuously from 1991.

The key requirement for the international strategy of the Faculty was to enhance the student’s learning environment by bringing into the University of Pécs an international student base and also offer its local students an opportunity to travel and study abroad.

The other reason for the development of an undergraduate degree program in English was to address the longer term need of the Hungarian economy. Starting in 1991, the University of Pécs initiated a Masters in Business Administration Program (MBA). This has been achieved with the support and co-operation of a number of schools in Europe, particularly Middlesex University, but also by way of the experience that lecturers and administrators obtained during their longer or shorter periods abroad in Europe and the US. However, the University of Pécs recognised that the longer term needs of industry and the Hungarian economy was dependent on the continuous supply of “home-grown” skilled labour force, and the BABA Program was developed to address this need. To enable the “home-grown” strategy to work, it was important for the University of Pécs to have a program that was internationally recognised and attractive to both home and foreign students, and taught in an accepted international business language.

The reason for the choice of the international partner was a long-term cooperation with a higher educational institution that had enormous growth potential, willingness to internationalize and last but not least procedures of validation could be managed, as both partner schools were in Europe. The Faculty of Business and Economics and Middlesex University had a long-time cooperation starting in 1991 and continuously going on ever since. There had been participation in joint European programs, such as TEMPUS and Erasmus, British Council based faculty and students exchange, joint research. This cooperation now in 2008 has a 17 years history, solid operations and hopefully a secure future. Leadership at both schools is keen on future cooperation and provides solid support for the English language programs and other activities (like faculty and student exchanges).