The research portfolio of the Department of Technical Education

 

Following the principle of scientific excellence members of the Department of Technical Education are regularly invited to lecture or participate in domestic and international conferences. The subsequent sharing of professional knowledge leads to intensified research, teaching, and publication activity. Accordingly, in 2018 the Department organized and hosted several conferences for Hungarian and international experts.

1. The main focus and scope of the research activity

 

The main fields of research of the department include learner expectations and behavioural patterns associated with mass-participation and digitalized lifelong learning. Traditional teaching models are currently facing a substantial challenge, mostly due to the increasing prevalence of new information technology and network-based devices, particularly the dominance of digital knowledge creation and consumption   Accordingly, a major focus of the department’s research is on pedagogical means of relaying innovative content via an open access digital content development model. Another important area of research aims to the explore and improve the use and application of individuals’ own devices, mostly computers in the teaching and learning process.

 

MTA – BME Open Educational Material Development Research Group

The Research Group works on open access educational materials which utilize interactive and collaborative learning and teaching principles by involving instructors, secondary school students and students enrolled in vocational teacher training programs in the continuous development of active learning and community-based content generation schemes.

The Visual Learning Laboratory

The main research goal of this scholarly workshop is the exploration of visuality, image-based learning and the various interpretations of textual, and verbal expression. Its output includes Visual Learning Brochures (2 pc.)

Professional journals and periodicals and the respective publications 

Opus et Educatio 4 issues, JATES 4 issues

Further prioritized research areas

Practical methods for the integration of competence demands of innovative organisations and knowledge obtained outside organisational frameworks

The research program  in the discipline of pedagogy focuses on the theoretical and practical aspects of adult education programs carried out by the human resource development sector in the automobile industry. The specific research program analyses the organization development methods in this sector along with the utilization of knowledge derived from open systems, with a particular focus on cooperation between the business and the academic sphere. The research sample comprised the Hungarian automobile manufacturing firms in the data base of the Association of the Hungarian Automotive Industry.^[1] The empirical research entails a survey of the respective professional research results, document analysis, and semi-structured in-depth interviews. The research effort utilizes qualitative methods demonstrated by primary data collection or questionnaire-based surveys.

Pedagogical aspects of ICT-based support provided for the electronic learning process and professional methodology solutions in vocational and adult education

 The accelerated development of ICT poses a continuous challenge to society, economy, and individual lifestyles today. As the intensity of this tendency is expected to increase, alongside the transformation of basic lifestyles, tasks and roles in society it is important also to consider corresponding changes in the educational system and its components. The dynamic technical and technological development in recent years has resulted in the transformation of the learning environments and the extension of digital learning, triggering a radical change of learning forms and basic principles. Consequently, the classical teaching and learning methods are undergoing a substantial change, along with the redefinition of learning environments, and the modification of the roles of participants.

Pedagogical aspects of open educational material development with special attention to interactive and collaborative methods applied in vocational training and adult learning

The theoretical background of this research program into interactive or collaborative learning (ICL) is based on domestic and international research results. The inquiry focuses on the professional methodology applied in vocational training institutions and the development of open educational materials in Hungary.

The impact of consumer confidence on economic productivity

This research in the discipline of pedagogy explores the practice and methodology of engineer training in Hungary.  The inquiry aims to analyse the expectations and objectives of the training in terms of the external and internal influences on clients of the higher education sphere, specifically prospective employers and engineering students.  The empirical research involved a survey of the respective professional research results, document analysis, and semi-structured in-depth interviews. The research effort utilizes qualitative methods supported by primary data collection or questionnaire-based surveys.

 

Institutional history-related research

The department has researched the history of the university for several decades, focusing on the main academic activities of the various Faculties, their connection with the business and the industrial sphere and the related demands for efficiency. The research results are disseminated in Hungarian and international scholarly publications and scientific conferences. Additional research activities focus on the main features of the learning of the elderly learners while applying theoretical, historical and comparative analyses, along with a secondary analysis of theoretical and empirical findings.

Significant publications

• György Molnár: How digital and virtual life trapped in visuality and new media systems affect teaching and the learning process, In: Ed.s.: Benedek András, Ed.: Veszelszki Ágnes Virtual Reality − Real Visuality: Virtual, Visual, Veridical. Frankfurt am Main; New York; Oxford; Wien: Peter Lang GmbH, Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften, 2017. pp. 101-120.
• András, Benedek: A New Paradigm in Education: The Priority of the Image In: Benedek, András; Nyíri, Kristóf (eds.) Vision Fulfilled: The Victory of the Pictorial Turn. Budapest: Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, (2019) pp. 3-17., 15 p.
• Nagy, Katalin: A pedagógusok és a gazdasági teljesítőképesség (Pedagogues and the capacity of the economy) EDUCATIO 24 : 1 pp. 148-155., 8 p. (2015)
• Kata János: Tanulástechnika. (Techniques of learning) Budapest: Typotex Kiadó, 2012. 225 p. ISBN:978-963-279-749-6
• Eva, Feketene Szakos: Learning as renewal: contribution to the present theoretical background of the lifelong learning policy of the European Union. International Journal of Lifelong Education 33: 4 pp. 504-522., 19 p. 2014.
• Anikó Kálmán: Learning – in the New Lifelong and Lifewide Perspectives, Tampere: Tampere University of Applied Sciences, 139 pp. 2016.
• Szűts Zoltán: Online: Az internetes kommunikáció és média története, elmélete és jelenségei, (The history, analysis, and main features of Internet-based communication and the respective media) Budapest, Hungary: Wolters Kluwer, 2018. ISBN: 9789632957784
• János Horváth Cz: Micro-content Generation Framework as a Learning Innovation pp. 171-181. 9 p. In: Benedek, András; Veszelszki, Ágnes (ed.) In the Beginning was the Image: The Omnipresence of Pictures: Time, Truth, Tradition. Frankfurt am Main, Germany: Peter Lang GmbH, Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften, (2016) p. 190
• Katona, József; Kővári, Attila: A Brain Computer Interface Project Applied in Computer Engineering. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON EDUCATION 59 : 4 pp. 319-326. 2016.
• Németh József: A gépészeti tudományok oktatásának másfél évszázada (150 years dedicated to the instruction of mechanical sciences) In: Dr. Czigány, Tibor (ed.) Gépészmérnöki kar anno 1871 Budapest, Hungary: BME, (2017) pp. 4-115., 112 p.

Acclaims and recognitions

 

Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary. Recognitions of achievement on behalf of the Government of Hungary

• 2006, Dr. András Benedek Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary Silver Cross (civilian division))

József Nádor Memorial Plaque

• 2016, Dr. András Benedek
• 2009, Dr. Zoltán Sturcz
• 2001, Dr. József Németh
• 2000, Dr. Elemér Biszterszky

Projects and innovation activity

 

„A glance into your future!” Complex programs at the BUTE promoting career orientation and further education. Career orientation and the popularization of Mathematics, Natural Science, Informatics, and Technological programs in higher education. EFOP–3.4.4-16 2016

The BUTE has always made it a priority to attract secondary school graduates to its technological and natural science programs. Several events have been organized for this purpose in recent years including open days, career orientation lectures, professional forums and other programs. This project aims to implement complex career orientation and further education promotion programs for students residing in the convergence region with special attention to females and those living in disadvantaged areas.  The main components of the program include the formation of an incentive system, the development of a mentoring and professional ambassador network, the organization of roadshows on a nationwide level, the expansion of professional programs at the faculty, the Junior  University (for secondary school pupils), the assessment of the professional needs of secondary school students, and the training of trainers.

https://www.bme.hu/bme_komplex_palyaorientacios_es_tovabbtanulast_elosegito_programok_efop

Collaboration in knowledge construction

 

Institutions can only raise their standing in the higher education area if they maintain a commitment to their locality and have achieved global visibility. The formation of the pedagogical identity of students enrolled in teacher training programs should be an important priority of both instruction and the curricula Such considerations have to be reflected in the actual content of the teaching process, the methodology and the related work culture. The aim is to create a learning environment which enables students to re-evaluate and extend their perspective on and attitude to knowledge-acquisition, learning, and human existence. Consequently, the goal is the implementation of a participatory pedagogy based on progressive inquiry and authentic learning. Such an approach emphasizes the importance of independent thinking and reflection, eventually leading to a reflective, exploratory, evolving, and entrepreneurial methodology facilitating the simultaneous realization of two objectives: the evolution of identity and becoming a member of the teaching profession. The research focuses on the results and future prospects of applying the Finnish approach to teacher training in Hungary.

Scholarly monograph related to the topic: Anikó, Kálmán: Learning – in the New Lifelong and Lifewide Perspectives, Tampere, Finland: Tampere University of Applied Sciences (2016), 139 p. ISBN: 9789525903805 Google scholar

MTA – BME Open Educational Material Development Research Group– OCD

The Open Educational Material Development Research Group undertook a methodological development project within the framework of a tender announced by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in 2016. The professional methodology oriented project focused on the didactic aspects of complex school subjects. The Department’s contribution included the arrangement of a conference, summarising and testing the resulting research results, the application of the professional methodology in a school environment, and the analysis of its impact and findings. The methodological research, carried out in in cooperation with the BME Teacher Training Centre takes into consideration the international trends and the specific aspects of the Hungarian education system and the conference aims to introduce differentiation-oriented pedagogical methods and procedures that can be used in vocational education.

Website

“25 years of the Vocational Education Act Historic changes-new trends” scientific and professional conference

2018. 05. 22.

Website

VLL – Scholarly workshop

The Visual Learning Laboratory established at the Department of Technical Education of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics aims to respond to new challenges. Its primary objective is the promotion of the educational application of visual technologies (still image, film video and interactive digital media) and a comprehensive exploration of all aspects of visual learning. The research effort is based on the idea that human thinking is inherently both word and image oriented.

Website

Scholarly journals published by the Department

Opus et Educatio

The intention, the content and the title of this publication reflects the   intertwining of these concepts, the  explanation of which may seem affected if repeated too frequently. . The value of the online digital periodical, Opus et Educatio derives from the standard of articles to be published there. The two main sections titled “Studies” and “Awakening” containing independently reviewed scholarly articles represent the continuous aspiration for the maintenance of quality standards and the implementation of quality assurance policies.

http://opuseteducatio.hu/index.php/opusHU/index

JATES

This scholarly journal focusing on Applied Technology and Educational Sciences (online ISSN 2560-5429) is an open access refereed multidisciplinary publication containing both scholarly and generally informative articles related to Applied Technology and Applied Pedagogy in Hungarian, English, and Serbian languages. The periodical has an international editorial board and regularly publishes scholarly articles, essays, short studies, summaries, case studies, reports, treatises, the description of applications and their development, along with product descriptions and other informative texts.

http://jates.org/index.php/jatespath/index

Knowledge and technology transfer

Curriculum development via a knowledge technology transfer project. The elaboration of training programs supporting the utilization and transfer of knowledge.

http.moodle.appi.bme.hu/

Guest researchers

ERASMUS and ERASMUS+ mobility programs

• Kurt Röttgers (Germany)
• Chryzante (Greece), Anna Saiti (Greece)
• Susan Mc Ansh, Anna, Eva Braidwood, Heather Kannasmaa, (Finland)
• Pirjo Jaakkola (Finland)

International cooperation, partners, and projects

2015 -2016 guest instructor: Dr. habil Anikó Kálmán in Tampere, Finland

“Varietas delectate:’ Complexity as a new regularity. Industry 4.0 and diversity in engineering training,” 2019. September 16-19. Creation is a continuous process. The role of universities and the respective expectations are continuously changing in the 21st century while the mission of science and higher education remains unchanged and essential. Stakeholders expect universities to promote innovation more effectively, to renew the knowledge-based economy, and to handle the drastically changed student population and its needs.

BME institutional representative, SEFI Board member: Dr. Anikó Kálmán http://sefi2019.eu/Welcome

IACEE (international Association Continuing Engineer Education) BUTE institutional representative BME, Dr. Anikó Kálmán (https://www.iacee.org/)

VOCAL

The project, whose initials stand for Vocational Online Collaboration for Active Learning, focuses on the further training of teachers to design on-line collaborative activities, promoting activity-based learning with a particular focus on target groups in higher and vocational education via the development of digital, social and intercultural competences.

Website: http://www.vocalerasmus.eu/

CARMA

It is widely acknowledged that the demands of the labour market and the abilities of fresh graduates do not match.  While professional training is provided on a continuous basis, students not only have to meet professional criteria, but are required to possess several soft skills linked to successful career orientation and career design. The realization of this goal was made possible by the CARMA scheme carried out within the ERASMUS + project. Built on the participation of three countries, Hungary, Finland, and Bulgaria and potentially teachers from other European countries, the project aims to provide career selection and design counselling to vocational school graduates equipped with new skills.

Website http://carma.hu/

Special infrastructure (laboratory)

The informatics training of engineering and economics teachers takes place at the Instruction technology and Methodology Laboratory of our Institute. The laboratory has 20 computers and is furnished to be suitable for computer-based instruction with 24 cabinets. It is located in Room 804 of Building E.

 

[1] Membership list of the Association of the Hungarian Automotive Industry. http://gepjarmuipar.hu/a-szovetseg  (Downloaded: 2018. March 10.)