Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.91.960214085232.12941A-100000@solar.rtd.utk.edu> Date: Wed, 14 Feb 1996 09:00:00 -0500 From: Tak Utsumi <mailto:utsumi@SOLAR.RTD.UTK.EDU> Subject: Fulbright Internationl Conference in Budapest, Hungary, 8/14-18/96 To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
SGU '96
Spirit of Global Understanding
A World Fulbright Alumni Conference
Budapest, Hungary
August 14-18, 1996
The Hungarian Fulbright Association and the Fulbright Commission,
Hungary invite you to the World Fulbright Alumni Meeting devoted to the
Spirit of Global Understanding (SGU '96).
We wish to assemble international Fulbright alumni from a variety of
disciplines to engage in a critical, future-oriented dialogue as part of
our celebration of the Fulbright Program's 50th anniversary.
Recognized as one of the official Fulbright anniversary events, SGU '96
sprang from Hungarian initiative and will be held in Budapest.
Although SGU '96 will review highlights of the Fulbright program's first
fifty years, we will concentrate on laying the foundations for another
successful half century. This celebration will offer an excellent
opportunity to meet Fulbrighters from around the world.
HISTORIC CELEBRATIONS
Hungary will celebrate the 1100th anniversary of the Magyar Settlement
of the Carpathian Basin in 1996. The seven Magyar tribes led by Arpad
finished their Westward migration in what we know today as Hungary. The
consolidation of Hungarian statehood came with the reign of St. Stephen
of Hungary, who was crowned as the first king in the year 1000. He
requested and received a crown from Pope Sylvester II as a symbol of
laying the foundations of the state and joining Western civilization.
Thus the country will soon be celebrating a second major anniversary:
the Millennium of the foundation of the State in year 2000.
The 1100th anniversary of the Settlement is the starting point for
a series of festivities continuing through the year 2000. During this
period the country will be looking back to the way in which it became
integrated into Europe and on the intellectual and material advances it
made in cooperation with the peoples around it. This recollection of
the country s past and traditions, however, will be combined with
contemplation of the future. Hungary now stands on the threshold of a
new qualitative level of integration into Europe.
The 1100th anniversary celebrations will have a dual purpose: to
recall the events from the year 896 and to review the highlights of
Hungarian history from its golden age one hundred years ago. The late
l9th century is one of the high points of the past 1100 years.
The focal point of the 1996 celebrations will be a major exhibi-
tion in Budapest on the "History of Hungary". There will be a rich
variety of other events too, including SGU '96, an officially recognized
event of the Hungarian Millecentennial.
THE MAJOR TOPICS OF THE CONFERENCE
The Spirit of Global Understanding Conference will focus on the three
main topics listed below, each of which contains a plenary session, with
one or two key-note speeches and parallel sessions (of about six
presentations each). Additionally, SGU '96 will offer poster workshops
to participants. The poster session is primarily dedicated to the
national Fulbright Alumni Associations, but contributions may also be
accepted on other topics. The conference will also feature an art
exhibition.
Global Change in the Economy and Society:
- political integration and disintegration in Europe and in the
world;
- results of the end of the cold war;
- the political role of the United States.;
- minorities and their problems;
- politics and economy in Central and Eastern Europe;
- nationalism and fundamentalism;
- multinational corporations and their role in world trade; interna-
tional crime organizations.
Quality of Life:
- the new global environment;
- global climate change, environmental pollution;
- alternative sources of energy;
- quality of life in different countries and different social strata
(social, political, economic, environmental, biological, cultural,
etc.);
- population boom, longer life cycle, aging of the population;
- life conditions in big cities (urban environments, city planning,
psychological effects, traffic, crime, etc.).
Globalization of Education:
- distance learning;
- global university, information highway;
- mobility in education;
- problem-oriented education;
- English as a universal language;
- development of textbooks;
- depreciation of knowledge;
- international exchange programs, fellowships and grants.
The official language of the conference will be English.
If you would like to contribute a paper to SGU '96, you are welcome to
do so by February 29, 1996. Please send a short abstract of your
presentation (title, author, affiliation and text in not more than 100
words) and check whether you prefer oral or poster presentation. Oral
presentations will be limited to twenty minutes plus five minutes of
discussion. Also let us know whether you would like to set up your own
exhibition stand. Please send a description of your subject, tell us
how much space you need, and indicate required accessories.
VENUE
Budapest, the splendorous capital of Hungary, straddles the Danube river
in the nation's north central region. Buda's hills house the Royal
Castle, while Pest's avenues are home to the Parliament and other
architectural gems. The official language is Hungarian, but foreigners
can easily get along with English or German. Budapest is known as one
of the most beautiful cities in the World. Weather in August is usually
dry and warm, about 25-28 C (77-82 F). Budapest can be reached easily
by freeway from Vienna and major highways from elsewhere by car, by
international trains, on the Danube by boat, and by most international
airlines.
Accommodation will be within walking distance of the venue in
downtown Budapest.
The second announcement with a list of invited speakers, information
on accommodation, participation fees, and possible grants will be mailed
early in 1996.
With the help of our sponsors, we look forward to welcoming you to
SGU '96 in Budapest.
Organizing Institutions
Hungarian Fulbright Association
Akos Mathe, Chairman
Fulbright Commission, Hungary
Huba Bruckner, Executive Director
Blaguss-Volanbusz Congress Bureau
Gabriella Molnar, Executive Director
Organizing Committee:
Huba Bruckner (Chair) Fulbright Commission,
Zoltan Nagy (Secretary) Centropa Trade Company
Janos Laszlo (Program) Technical University, Budapest
Elek Nagy (Finance) Fulbright Commission
Tamas Sikos-tomay (PR) Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Chairs Of The Program Committee:
Tibor Frank, Director
ELTE Institute of English and American Studies
(Global Changes in the Economy and Society)
Janos Gergely
Member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
(Quality of Life)
Geza Gordos, Vice Rector
Technical University, Budapest
(Globalization of Education)
For further information please contact:
Hungarian Fulbright Association
c/o Hungarian-American Fulbright Commission
H-1146 Budapest, Ajtosi Durer sor 19-21.
Phone: (+36-1) 183-7777; 183-6580
Fax: (+36-1) 252-0266
e-mail: mailto:fulbright@fki.huninet.hu
****************************************
THE FULBRIGHT PROGRAM IN HUNGARY
Hungary joined the Fulbright Program during the late 1970s. It was a
milestone in the history of the Hungarian-American Educational Exchange
Program when on December 6, 1990, the Republic of Hungary and the United
States of America signed an agreement to establish the Fulbright
Commission in Hungary.
The goal of the Hungarian-American Fulbright Commission for Educa-
tional Exchange is to support educational and research programs which
are in harmony with the spirit of the signing partner states and which
receive financial support from the two governments. The Fulbright
Commission organizes the exchange of Hungarian and American graduate
students, scholars, researchers, lecturers and artists. The aim of the
Commission is to increase the visibility of the Fulbright Program in
Hungary and to encourage possibilities for scholarly exchange between
the two countries.
In Hungary there is a growing number of those who show interest in
the opportunities for further education in the United States, in
programs offering a first degree as well as in Ph.D. courses. The
Fulbright Commission's Educational Advising Center is part of a national
network. The center is open to the public and its services are avail-
able for graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and researchers.
Until now, there have been approximately 500 American and 450
Hungarian grantees in the U.S. - Hungarian Fulbright Program. The
Alumni Association has a key role in promoting and helping to guide the
Fulbright Program.
The Hungarian Fulbright Association was established in 1991 to foster
mutual understanding between different peoples and nations, and, in
particular, to promote relations between the peoples of Hungary and the
United States in the fields of culture, research and education - all in
the Fulbright spirit.
In four years the Association's membership has grown steadily. More
recently, alumni have organized cultural and professional meetings with
the American Fulbrighters staying in Hungary.
THE FULBRIGHT PROGRAM
The Mutual Educational Exchange Program or the Fulbright Program, named
in honor of Senator J. William Fulbright, was established by the U.S.
Congress on August 1, 1946. The main objective of the program is "to
enable the government of the United States to increase mutual under-
standing between the people of the United States and the people of other
countries ... and thus to assist in the development of friendly,
sympathetic, and peaceful relations, between the United States and other
countries of the world."
The program operates in more than 150 countries. Binational commis-
sions were established by executive agreements in 43 countries. The J.
William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (BFS) in Washington, D.C. is
composed of 12 educational and public leaders appointed by the President
of the United States. It has statutory responsibility for the selection
of all academic exchange grantees, the establishment of policies and
procedures, and the supervision of the Fulbright Program worldwide.
Motivated by the need to change the United States's traditional isola-
tionist policy, the Fulbright Program developed into an indispensable
resource for scholars and institutions all over the world.
More than 200,000 alumni have studied for their leadership roles
through the Fulbright Program (including Nobel and Pulitzer Prize
winners, Heads of State and Prime Ministers, artists and ambassadors,
governors and senators, professors and physicians, supreme court
justices and CEOs). These Fulbrighters, past and present, have enabled
the Fulbright Program to become the world's largest and most prestigious
scholarly exchange program.
In May 1993, Senator J. William Fulbright, whose vision resulted in
the Fulbright Program, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by
President Clinton at an 88th birthday tribute sponsored by the U.S.
Fulbright Association. This well-deserved recognition from his own
country was followed by many honors and awards accorded to him by other
countries. The Hungarian Government awarded him the Silver Cross of the
Republic of Hungary in 1994.
****************************************
PRE-REGISTRATION FORM
SPIRIT OF GLOBAL UNDERSTANDING
A WORLD FULBRIGHT ALUMNI CONFERENCE
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
AUGUST 14-18,1996
Yes, I am interested in participating in the SCU '96 Conference.
Please send me the 2nd circular and other information material on this
event.
Family name ____________________________________________________________
First name _____________________________________________________________
Affiliation (institute, University, Company, etc.) _____________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Mailing address ________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
City ___________________________________________________________________
Postal/Zip Code ________________________________________________________
Country ________________________________________________________________
Phone __________________________________________________________________
Fax ____________________________________________________________________
E-mail _________________________________________________________________
I would like to contribute
as a speaker with a presentation
entitled _________________________________________________________
with a poster presentation
entitled _________________________________________________________
in any other way, namely ____________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
I would like to attend
alone [ ]
with spouse/dependents [ ]
Please fill out and send back this reply card by February 29, 1996.
Please insert this card into an envelope and mail it to:
Hungarian Fulbright Association
c/o Hungarian-American Fulbright Commission
H-1 1 46 Budapest, Ajtosi Durer sor 19-21.
Phone: (+36-1) 183-7777, 183-6580
Fax: (+36-1) 252-0266
E-mail: mailto:fulbright@fki.huninet.hu
**********************************************************************
* Takeshi Utsumi, Ph.D. *
* Laureate of Lord Perry Award for Excellence in Distance Education *
* Founder of CAADE *
* (Consortium for Affordable and Accessible Distance Education) *
* President, Global University in the U.S.A. (GU/USA) *
* A Divisional Activity of GLOSAS/USA *
* (GLObal Systems Analysis and Simulation Association in the U.S.A.) *
* 43-23 Colden Street, Flushing, NY 11355-3998, U.S.A. *
* Tel: 718-939-0928; Fax: 718-939-0656 (day time only--prefer email) *
* INTERNET: mailto:utsumi@columbia.edu; Tax Exempt ID: 11-2999676 *
**********************************************************************