Visitor Describes Hungarian Education

Despite tremendous differences between educational policies on the two sides of the Iron Curtain, an eminent Hungarian scientist termed his visit to Harvard a "significant step in alleviating East-West tensions through greater cooperation between the scholars of the two countries."

Doctor of Science Joseph Tigyi is on leave from his post as Deputy-Director of Hungary's Pecs Medical School for a year's study at the Medical School's biophysical laboratory. He is working under a newly-instituted Ford Foundation program of grants to Eastern European scientists for research in the United States.

Tigyi, familiar with Hungarian education through his experience both as an administrator and a scientist, drew interesting contrasts between the policies of the two countries in the CRIMSON'S first Hungarian-language interview.

Education in Hungary is "state planned," Tigyi explained. "Statistical calculations find how many doctors the country needs, and that's how many places there will be in medical school."

This policy, he continued, replaces the comprehensive liberal-arts college with specialized schools. Pecs University, for example, conducts a six-year program in medicine.

"By the time a student is 18 years old, he should surely be able to decide what he wants to do," Tigyi said, explaining why changes of concentration are difficult under the Hungarian system.

Admission to the limited number of places "is now decided completely on the basis of entrance exams," Tigyi added, "but two years ago such factors as class origin gave an advantage to students of modest descent."

If the student fails his exam, he does not go on to college. Tigyi asked "Why should we give people diplomas if the country doesn't need them and they don't have any brains?"

Graduate studies also differ. As many as "ten to fifteen theses lead to a degree corresponding to the American Ph.D.," Tigyi explained, while about 50 are required for the highest science degree, "Doctor of Science." This in turn may mean election to the Academy of Sciences. Once elected, scientists re- ceive financial support from the Academy.

Tigyi concluded that his visit to the United States has provided him with an "understanding of the people, their motivations and objectives, with an insight which comes only through living in a country."

This opportunity, hopes Tigyi, will be extended to others in his position