This is the translation of the original report published on 3 June 2026.
On 2 June 2026, at a symbolic time: immediately before the annual Day of National Cohesion (4 June), the Collection and Research Centre of Hungarians Worldwide was opened at the University Library and Knowledge Centre in Pécs. The aim of this much-needed initiative is to provide scholarly support for research covering the culture and everyday life of Hungarian communities living beyond Hungary’s border: in the Carpathian Basin as well as in the worldwide diaspora.
The research center is built around a unique book collection that not only documents the lives of Hungarian communities beyond Hungary’s borders but also brings together extensive research material on Hungarian folk traditions. The collection also serves as a scholarly hub, providing opportunities for university students and doctoral researchers to engage in historical investigation, data collection, and analytical work. The official opening was deliberately scheduled close to the Day of National Cohesion, thereby emphasizing the unity of the Hungarians across national borders. The collection is founded by substantial book donations, including contributions from Katalin Szili, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Universitas Quinqueecclesiensis Foundation, which operates the University of Pécs (PTE), and President of the Research Institute for National Strategy Jenő Szász (Nemzetstratégiai Kutatóintézet, NSKI).
At the opening ceremony, Vice-Rector for Education at the University of Pécs Tamás Fedeles emphasized that the university has long been committed to research concerning Hungarian communities around the world. He also highlighted the systematic scholarly work carried out by Ákos Jarjabka and his colleagues, contributing both to the preservation of Hungarian traditions and to the development of international academic relations. The newly established collection has the potential to become a distinguished knowledge base for research on Hungarian communities and identity, comparable in significance to the historic role once played by the National Library founded by Ferenc Széchényi, he noted.
In her address, Katalin Szili recalled that, as a consequence of the Treaty of Trianon, approximately five million Hungarians now live outside Hungary’s borders. She emphasized that, in the 21st century, one of the key challenges remains strengthening the connections between Hungarian communities worldwide—not only at the political and cultural levels, but also through networks of scholarship, cooperation, and personal relationships. She stressed that members of the Hungarian diaspora are custodians of Hungarian culture and identity, passing on the nation’s values from one generation to the next.
Drawing from his personal experience, Jenő Szász emphasized the efforts made by Hungarian communities separated from the mother country—particularly those living in the Western diaspora—to preserve their Hungarian identity.
He highlighted that members of the diaspora are the guardians of Hungarian culture and identity, who pass on our national values from generation to generation: diaspora communities are ‘the keepers of the flame’, who pass on the Hungarian language, culture, and traditions. It is precisely for this reason that those initiatives and institutions that support diaspora communities and strengthen their ties with the Hungarian nation are of such importance. As stated, the new research center and the associated database development project could play a crucial role in mapping and supporting these communities around the world.
Gábor Szeberényi, Director-General of the University Library and Knowledge Centre of the University of Pécs, which hosts the collection, highlighted that the initial collection of approximately 850 books already provides a substantial foundation for the initiative. He also emphasized that while the digital world is becoming increasingly dominant, thematic collections with a physical presence continue to serve as important points of reference for the academic community, offering valuable resources and orientation for scholarly research.
Following the official opening ceremony, Ákos Jarjabka, Head of the University of Pécs Hungarians Worldwide Network Program (in Hungarian: PTE Világmagyarság Network Program, VMNP), formally inaugurated the research center. Afterward, guests were invited to view the book collection.
‘The…Collection and Research Centre of Hungarians Worldwide has the potential to open a new chapter in the scholarly study of the Hungarian diaspora’
The program was further enriched by musical and dance performances presented by students of the Mihály Babits High School. Attendees also had the opportunity to become acquainted with Magyarnak maradni Amerikában (Remaining Hungarian in America) by Ildikó Antal-Ferencz, a newly published interview book that explores the everyday lives of Hungarian diaspora communities in the US and their continuous efforts to preserve their cultural identity.
The establishment of the Collection and Research Centre of Hungarians Worldwide has the potential to open a new chapter in the scholarly study of the Hungarian diaspora. The initiative serves the interests of research, education, and the strengthening of national identity simultaneously, providing an open intellectual space that fosters connections between Hungarian communities across the globe. The research center was established as part of the Hungarians Worldwide Network Program of the University of Pécs. The event was also attended by Adrián Fábián, the University’s appointed Rector.
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