The first university in Hungary was founded in the city of Pécs back in 1367, four centuries before the first university appeared in the Russian Empire. Subsequently, many higher educational institutions in a variety of fields were established on the territory of the kingdom. However, in the 20th century, young Hungarians gladly went to study to the USSR. What drove them, and how do today's graduates of the 60s and 70s assess their connection with Russia?
Tibor Czerny, an engineer-hydrogeologist and doctor of sciences, built a brilliant career - he taught at Sopron University, worked in the Geological Department of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, headed the secretariat of the Director of the Hungarian Geological Institute. Today he is 70 years old, and he dreams to see with his own eyes again the places where his love for geology and professional way started. St. Petersburg, the Mining University, Karelia and the Caucasus.
"I entered the Leningrad Mining Institute in 1969 to major in hydrogeology. At that time I had graduated from a mining college in my homeland, but there were no professional universities in Hungary that would allow me to continue my studies in geological engineering and geophysics. Moreover, even if we had such an institute, I understood that geology studies the structure and development of the whole Earth. And Hungary is a very small country. The area of the USSR was 240 times larger than it was, so studying there gave me great experience in a variety of geological conditions," recalls Tibor Czerny.
Several of his fellow students at the technical college passed their exams with him. Of course, they could not be called pioneers. The first 494 students from "people's democracy" countries arrived in the USSR immediately after the Great Patriotic War. There were only 15 Hungarians among them. Already in the 60's in the RSFSR there were 500 Hungarian students, and in the whole Soviet Union - 1500. Most went to Leningrad, which was assigned the role of one of the centers for training foreign personnel.
"The expectations were fully met! I was able to make many interesting trips around the country - to Baikal, Tashkent and Samarkand. Thanks to the production practices I visited the Caucasus only six times. We moved around with the help of horses and donkeys and lived in tents. The memories will last a lifetime! All in all, I spent more than one year in the region - I worked as a drilling assistant, carried out geomorphological mapping of glaciers and a place called Nizhny Zaramag, located in the narrow Kassar Gorge. As it turned out later, the maps I made for my thesis formed the basis of the Zaramagskaya hydroelectric power station, the largest in North Ossetia. This place is interesting with its complex natural conditions, and the project has unique technical solutions for hydropower engineering - in particular, the hydropower plant has the highest head in Russia, the most powerful bucket hydro turbines, the longest diversion tunnel. Thanks to the experience I gained upon my return home, despite my young age, I was entrusted with such important projects as engineering and geological mapping of Lake Balaton, was sent to work in Mongolia and Cuba," says Tibor Czerny.
Overflowing with memories is his fellow hydrogeologist Istvan Szücs, who during his career worked as a researcher at the largest specialized research institutes in Hungary - the Hungarian Geological Institute, the Mining Institute, the Institute of Water Management and the Water Research Institute.
"We were lucky to share a room with a Russian guy Grigory Morozov, whose parents lived in Petrozavodsk. We became friends, and we developed a tradition: at the end of each school year Grisha invited us to visit him in Karelia, where he organized a literal field trip. His family had a dacha in the small village of Kosalma on the narrow isthmus between Konchober and Ukshozer. We took an incredible pleasure in exploring the local nature and even visited Mount Sampo, where the movie "The Dawns Here Are Quiet" was filmed. These trips were some of the highlights of my youth and student years," says Istvan Szücs.
According to geologists, due to the specifics of their profession, nature often makes the strongest impressions on them during one trip or another. However, in the memory of Hungarian graduates a lot of memories are associated with specific people.
"I will never forget my lecturer in historical geology, Artur Kagarmanov. He was an amazing scientist - in the 50's he worked as a party chief of the Altai geological survey expedition of the East Kazakhstan Geological Administration, and in the 60's he was a head of the geology department of the Polytechnic University in Guinea. Arthur Khasenbekovich had one weakness - he loved classical music. And in this vein, he took care of our upbringing - he warmly recommended the students theatrical venues and individual productions, and on Saturdays he invited us to his house for musical evenings. Thanks to him I fell in love with ballet and opera and learned about Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov. Such tutelage helped us a lot to feel comfortable away from our native land and parents," shares Tibor Czerny.
Today, on the eve of the 250th anniversary of the Mining University the Hungarian alumni remember how in 1973 they, the third-year students, as interpreters were invited to participate in the celebration of the Mining Institute's 200th anniversary.
"In particular, we assisted in the negotiations of Rector Lev Kell with the rector of the University of Miskolc. A delegation from this largest university in northern Hungary, which is considered the successor of the Mining and Metallurgy University, established in 1735, was among other guests invited to the celebration. Subsequently, we were repeatedly engaged as interpreters not only from the Hungarian, but also from the English language. I will always remember how I helped the popular American singer and movie actor Dean Reed, who was very popular in the USSR, Eastern Europe, and Latin America, to perform a concert at our Mining Institute," says Istvan Szücs.
He is confident that the upcoming jubilee will be held in no less festive and welcoming atmosphere than the one in which they participated 50 years ago.
Despite the great desire to witness this event, most Hungarians, due to their age and existing visa restrictions, will not be able to come. Istvan Szücs, as head of the Hungarian Alumni Association of LGI, wrote a letter on behalf of his classmates expressing his deep appreciation for the knowledge and skills he had gained, "which helped him to succeed in his profession throughout his life."
"Hungarian graduates of the Mining Institute in geology, hydrogeology, engineering geology, metallurgy and mining have worked and are working in significant positions in various sectors of the economy. My colleagues held such positions as Technical Director of the Hungarian Mint, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Hungary to Turkey, Mongolia and Kazakhstan, Chief Technologist in construction of a deep (1200 m) copper mine in Rechka, owner and director of the leading environmental group in the country. We developed deposits, built coal, uranium and bauxite mines and mines, designed and built the first lines of the Budapest Metro and the Paks Nuclear Power Plant, directed geological surveys and mapping, taught at universities, did research at research institutes. These students have earned recognition not only for themselves, but also for their alma mater," summarizes Istvan Szücs.
Despite the fact that Russia classified Hungary as an unfriendly country because of its accession to Western sanctions, according to Russian Ambassador to Hungary Evgeny Stanislavov, the channels of dialogue remain open. Budapest is not going to give up its position, even under pressure from the EU and NATO.
As if in confirmation of this in April 2023, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó visited Moscow to discuss cooperation in order to ensure security of energy supplies to his country. According to experts, the raw materials sector, as well as scientific and educational cooperation, remain the link that unites our countries, just like half a century ago.
