Between February 24 and October 1, 2023, we will commemorate the 30th anniversary of our institution with conferences in Hungarian and foreign languages, a jubilee brochure, and numerous programmes. During the jubilee commemorative year, we remember not only the past three decades, but also the period before that, the roots of Reformed higher education, the spirit and sense of mission that inspired the institution.
The Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary continues the tradition of the reformed colleges of the past in its educational and teaching activities. The conviction - that there is a strong need for a Reformed institution in higher education - of Dr. Loránt Hegedűs, Reformed pastor and Bishop of the Dunamelléki Diocese played a crucial role in the foundation of the University (1993).
The Synod of the Reformed Church of Hungary, at its meeting of 24 February 1993, decided to found the Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary in the spirit of the following verse: "Destruction has overtaken my people because they have no knowledge ." (Hosea 4:6). The Parliament adopted the proposal codifying the establishment of the university on 1 October 1993.
Thanks to this broad cooperation and professional support, the Károli Gáspár Reformed University was born, building on the Theological Academy and combining it with the Teacher Training College in Nagykőrös, and then with the Faculty of Humanities. The first ceremonial opening of the school year was held on 11 October 1993, in the ceremonial hall of the Ráday College. The first rector of our institution was Kálmán Benda, academic, Széchenyi Prize-winning historian, former archivist of the Dunamelléki Diocese.
The opening ceremony of the 30th anniversary event is co-organised with the Reformed Church of Hungary. The commemorative meeting of the Synod will take place on 24 February 2023 between 9:30-14.00 in the Assembly Hall of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
The detailed programme of the commemorative meeting will be available on our website: http://www.kre.hu/emlekev/
