In 2022 International Network for Christian Higher Education Europe Conference was organized by Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary. The conference was held between April 6-8 with almost 80 participants. Guests were hosted from the USA, Bulgaria, Netherlands, Slovakia, Ukraine, Germany, Czech Republic, Ireland and even from Nepal.
Dr. Balla Péter, ordained pastor and Vice-Rector and Dr. Shirley Roels, the Executive Director of INCHE, opened the conference. On the last day of the conference Prof. Dr. Trócsányi László, Rector gave a closing speech.
The theme and the main question of the conference was Community Building in Fragmented Societies: Challenges for Christians in Higher Education, which was examined in macro – meso and also micro level by the participants. The different levels were introduced by Prof. Dr. Govert Buijs (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), Prof. Dr. József Pálfi (Partiumi Christian University) and by Prof. Dr. Claudia Beversluis (Calvin College). Each presentation was followed by a plenary debate, small group sessions and workshops.
At the end of the conference Prof. Dr. Trócsányi László, Rector of Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary thanked the presenters, the organizers and the participants for their work, and the recently elected Rector also described some elements of his rector's program, which are also related to the topic of the INCHE conference. On the topic of fragmented societies, he mentioned his initiative to require students from each faculty to take a course from another faculty starting from September 2022. He said it was important for the students to get to know each other and gaining insight into the studies of another faculty is essential. He emphasized that the establishment of the Kalvin Interdisciplinary Academy was also intended to strengthen interoperability between the faculties and the promotion of interdisciplinary dialogue. Together with the University of Szeged, they are planning to start a Summer University, and they are also initiating collaborations with other institutions in the Carpathian Basin. At the end of his speech, he expressed his hope for further successful cooperation with INCHE's organizations.
From our university Dr. Dóra Bernhardt, Assistant Professor at the Institute of English, Prof. Dr. Enikő Sepsi, Head of the Department of Art History and Art Pedagogy, Dr. Dóra Pődör, Associate Professor of the Institute of English and Deputy Dean of Education of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and Prof. Dr. Balázs Siba, Head of the Department of Religious Education and Pastoral Psychology gave presentations.
