PCU history

az egyetem tortenete

Milestones in the history of the Partium Christian University

 

19 May 1990 – Resolution No. 39/1990 of the Királyhágómellék Reformed Church District’s General Assembly establishes the Sulyok István Reformed College. A provisional Institute Council is formed. Founding members of the Institute Council are: Dr. Mária Széles Eszenyeiné, Dr. Béla Eszenyei, Dr. Ágoston András, Ödön Deák, Pál Sarkadi and Dr. Huba Major. Courses start on 1 October with 238 students enrolled to become teachers of religion. The first appointed rector of the university is Dr. Zsolt Mester.

February 1991 – In transcript No. 4805/1991 the Secretariat for Religious Affairs authorizes the operation of the Sulyok István Reformed College as a Faculty of Reformed Theology in Oradea, as branch of the Protestant Theological Institute of Kolozsvár (Cluj-Napoca). Religion Teacher study programme starts in two locations: Nagyvárad (Oradea) and Zilah (Zalău).

1994–1995 – The National Council of Academic Evaluation and Accreditation of Higher Education Institutions issues a temporary operating licence to the Teacher of Religion / Social Worker and the Teacher of Religion / German Language Teacher programmes. Religion Teacher / Law specialisation is arbitrarily terminated after three years of operation.

1994 autumn – Rev. József Pálfi is appointed to establish the college chaplaincy.

1995–2000 – The spectrum of specializations is enlarged with the following degree programmes: Management, Music Pedagogy, and Modern Languages.

November 1995 – The Board of Directors of the College decides separation from the Protestant Theological Institute of Kolozsvár (Cluj-Napoca) and the establishment of an independent Hungarian higher education institution, the Partium Christian University.

11 December 1996 – The Board of Directors of Sulyok István Reformed College appoints Professor Dr. Béla Kovács as rector. Senior lecturer István Szűcs is appointed Vice-Rector.

9 June 1998 – An ecumenical assembly declares the intention of establishing the Partium Christian University and addresses a letter to Andrei Marga, Minister of Education requesting that the university be established by law.

20 September 1999 – By Decision No. 118/N/1999 of the Bihar County Court the Pro Universitate Partium Foundation is registered, which provides the legal background for the Partium Christian University. The president of the Pro Universitate Partium Foundation Board of Trustees is László Tőkés, vice-president is Dr. Béla Kovács, and members are Dr. Mária Széles Eszenyeiné, István Szűcs, József Pálfi, and Zsolt Szilágyi.

1 October 1999 – The founding members of the Pro Universitate Partium Foundation decide the establishment of Partium Christian University and begin its accreditation process. Dr. Béla Kovács becomes the first rector of the university; vice-rector is István Szűcs, then from October 2001 until December 2009 the function is held by Dr. Györgyi Szilágyi.

May 2000 – The National Council of Academic Evaluation and Accreditation of Higher Education Institutions grants the Partium Christian University a temporary operating licence. Based on an agreement signed with the Institute of English and American Studies of the University of Debrecen for the 2000–2001 academic year, two new study programmes are launched: English Language and Literature, as well as English Language and Literature/Romanian Language and Literature.

28 November 2000 – The Romanian Government issues resolution no. 1215/2000 according to which three new specialisations are launched at Partium Christian University. In the academic year 2000–2001 the university structure is the following:

Faculty of Letters provides training in

  • Teacher of Religion / Social Work,
  • Teacher of Religion / German Language and Literature,
  • Teacher of Religion / English Language and Literature.

The Applied Sciences Faculty provides training in

  • Music Pedagogy / Church Music,
  • Institution Management.

Primary School Teacher Training / Modern Languages /English or German/ Teacher training is also started.

24 January 2002 – The Hungarian Ministry of Education provides access to the Electronic Information Service (EIS) to Partium Christian University and Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania, the use of which greatly facilitates scientific work and research due to access to 1,500 scholarly journals and research databases.

13 May 2002 – The CNEAA issues temporary operating licence to the Romanian Language and Literature, English Language and Literature, and Philosophy degree programmes.

31 May 2002 – The Sapientia Foundation, The Sapientia University of Transylvania and Partium Christian University sign an agreement to create a common network of private higher education institutions in Romania.

29 August 2002 – The National Council of Academic Evaluation and Accreditation of Higher Education Institutions issues a temporary operating licence to the Economy of Commerce, tourism and services, to the German Language and Literature, to the Theology, and to the Fine Arts degree programmes.

12 June 2003 – The National Council of Academic Evaluation and Accreditation of Higher Education Institutions issues a temporary operating licence to the Sociology, English Language and Literature / Romanian Language and Literature, and Social Work degree programmes.

12 May 2004 – The Partium Christian University Senate appoints Professor Dr. Zsolt Geréb as Rector.

18 October 2004 – The National Council of Academic Evaluation and Accreditation of Higher Education Institutions accredits the Teacher of Religious Education / German Language and Literature, and the Teacher of Religious Education / Social Work degree programmes.

August 2005 – Based on an agreement with the University of Debrecen, in the 2005/2006 academic year, the Agricultural Engineering Master’s degree programme is launched as a branch of the University of Debrecen.

August 2005 – According to notification No. 365/12.05.2005 by the National Council of Academic Evaluation and Accreditation of Higher Education Institutions, Partium Christian University meets all the accreditation requirements.

9 March 2006 – The Steering Committee of the university is founded.

11 May 2007 – Partium Christian University signs a strategic co-operation agreement with the Sapentia University of Transylvania.

July 2007 – The National Council of Academic Evaluation and Accreditation of Higher Education Institutions accredits the Philosophy degree programme.

1 September 2008 – The University Senate elects Associate Professor Dr. Gizella Horváth as Rector.

30 September 2008 – At its plenary session, the Chamber of Deputies of Romania adopts a law stating the accreditation of Partium Christian University with 185 votes in favour, 15 votes against and 10 abstentions. Under this Law, the University may organise final examinations independently, launch masters’ degree programmes, and take part in international tendering procedures. After almost a half-century hiatus, the first nationally recognised and autonomous Hungarian-speaking academic institution of Transylvanian Hungarians, i.e. the Partium Christian University, is established. Law No. 196/2008 also states the accreditation of the following degrees: Social Work, German Language and Literature and Reformed Didactic Theology.

9 July 2009 – The Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education accredits the first three MA programmes:  European Social Politics, Philosophy and Art in Public Space and Multilingualism and Multiculturalism.

12 October 2009 – The Hungarian Language and Literature degree programme receives operating licence from the Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education.

18 December 2009 – The Romanian Ministry of Education confirms the appointment of Associate Professor Dr. Szabolcs János-Szatmári as Rector, elected by the Senate of the Partium Christian University. Associate Professor Dr. Gizella Horváth is elected Vice-Rector.

July 2010 – The Music Pedagogy and the Fine Arts degree programmes are accredited.

July 2011 – Musical Art in Contemporary Culture, and Visual Communication MA programmes are accredited.

12 September 2011 – The Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education accredits the Entrepreneurship and Business Administration MA programme.

October 2011 – The Ministry of Education approves of the new Charter of the University.

15 February 2012 – Based on a decision of the Inter-Ministerial Committee of the Hungarian Government, Partium Christian University is added to the list of institutions of national importance, serving the preservation and development of Hungarian culture.

27 September 2013 – The Conference of Hungarian Rectors is hosted by the Partium Christian University.

25 June 2014 – The Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education renews the accreditation of the University qualifying it as a “trustful institution”.

27 June 2014 – The University Senate decides to support the need for full-scale university reform, and updating of the university’s vision and functioning. To the initiative of the Senate, a planning committee is set up to elaborate a strategy and an action plan.

28 May 2015 – The Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education accredits the Business Administration in Tourism MA programme.

December 2015 – The Steering Committee appoints Dr. József Pálfi as interim Rector and Dr. Enikő Maior as interim Vice-Rector.

March 2016 – The university elects Dr. József Pálfi as Rector, and Dr. Gábor Flóra as Vice-Rector.

21 April 2016 – The Board of Trustees of the Sapientia Foundation and Pro Universitate Partium unanimously accept the action plan presented by Rector Dr. József Pálfi regarding the structural and organisational reform of the university and its scheme to ensure cost-effective operation.

27 July 2016 – The University Senate approves the updated university structure which comprises four Departments, which are organised into two Faculties. The new university structure is the following:

Faculty of Letters and Arts:

  • Department of Arts
  • Department of Languages and Literatures

Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences:

  • Department of Human and Social Sciences
  • Department of Economics

27 October 2016 – The Hungarian Language and Literature degree programme is accredited by the Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education.

18 November 2016 – The University Senate approves the new University Charter.

17 June 2017 – As part of the Academic Year Closing Ceremony, the statue of poet János Arany is unveiled in the courtyard of the University (the dormitory is named after him).

1 October 2017 – Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán inaugurated the new building of the University.

25 May 2018 – The Network Promoting Linguistic Diversity accepts Partium Christian University as its Associate Member.

22 April 2019 – The Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education accredits Pedagogy of Preschool and Primary School Education and Banking and Finance degree programmes.

19 June 2019 – The Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education renews the accreditation of the University qualifying it as “trustful institution”. For the first time in its history, it is at the end of 2019 that all BA and MA programmes at Partium Christian University are fully accredited.

10 March 2020 – Teachers’ and students’ representatives elect Professor Dr. József Pálfi rector for a second four-year term.

6–8 May 2020 – The Conference of Hungarian Rectors is hosted at Partium Christian University.

14 May 2020 – Partium Christian University holds the jubilee celebration entitled “30 Years in the Service of the Hungarian-speaking Higher Education in Transylvanian and the Partium Region.”

 

So far, PCU has signed more than 25 cooperation agreements with various institutions in addition to more than 70 agreements within the Erasmus programme, thus having become a member of important university networks.