1. Evolution of rural animation in Hungary
SZÉCHENYI ISTVÁN UNIVERSITY
Evolution of rural animation in Hungary
Prof. Dr. Irén Kukorelli
Széchenyi István University Hungary
EMRA Conference:  “Animation for rural development — a new profession?”
Chania, Crete, 7-9 June 2012

2. 2. Developing institutional system generated jobs
SZÉCHENYI ISTVÁN UNIVERSITY
ROADMAP
1. Rural development concept after transition, outlining the micro-regional level (LAU I)
2. Developing institutional system generated jobs
3. Supply and demand for professionals at local level for sustainable rural development
4. Change of higher education system
5. Meeting points of demand and supply of jobs for rural development (a case of LAGs)

3. Causes of changes in Hungarian rural areas in the 90’ decade
SZÉCHENYI ISTVÁN UNIVERSITY
Causes of changes in Hungarian rural areas in the 90’ decade
Negative influences
land privatalization process
decreasing food export
increasing unemployment
polarization of rural space
the polarization of rural space depends on the global economy, the bottom-up policy is not able to prevail
Positive influences
appearance of bottom-up policy
grass-roots initiatives
rural development organisations at micro-region level
appearance of new functions: rural tourism, environmental protection: national park, nature park
SAPARD program
LEADER program – LAG’s

4. Institutional system of spatial development at local level in Hungary
SZÉCHENYI ISTVÁN UNIVERSITY
Institutional system of spatial development
at local level in Hungary
Before systematic change a council system operated in , which meant municipalities had no self-government rights.
More than half of the over 3200 independent settlements had a „partner village status” – without any development resources – way to the rural exodus – these villages has to close their institutions, services, the population were moved to the centre village or to the near town.
After 1990 the administrative system and the institutional system of spatial and settlement development were changed.
Hungary became a unitary state with a two-tier decision-making system: national and local tiers.
Each municipality, irrespective of their number of population, set up independent self-governments, as a result of which almost 3,200 municipalities replaced the former 1,600 council centres, i.e. a disintegration process took place.
The inhabitants of small

5. Municipal Associations
SZÉCHENYI ISTVÁN UNIVERSITY
Municipal Associations
The result: fregmented local governmental system (3200 local governments) –
At the same time - signs of cooperation! Association of local governments started in the early 1990s on a totally voluntary basis, bottom-up, from the municipal level
desintegration – integration
at local level

6. Periods in the developing process of institutional system
SZÉCHENYI ISTVÁN UNIVERSITY
Periods in the developing process of institutional system
at micro-regional level
A./ first half of 90’s
B./ Act on Regional Development and Spatial Planning : after1996
D./ Micro-regional associations for rural development (after2000), generated by SAPARD.
E./ Multi-purpose micro-regional association 2004
F./ LEADER program after 2005

7. Municipal Associations
SZÉCHENYI ISTVÁN UNIVERSITY
Municipal Associations
Period 1: non-governmental organisations and entrepreneurs could also join the associations (early 90’) Period 2: Act on Regional Development and Spatial Planning passed in 1996 only allowed municipal self-governments to be members in municipal associations: - participation in the work of the county development councils, - to get financial reources through tendering - preapering strategic plan for the future - to implement it through some projects

8. Demand for job at micro-regional level
SZÉCHENYI ISTVÁN UNIVERSITY
Demand for job at micro-regional level
Supply
- to build a daily contact with mayors and the regional organisations (e.g. unemployment office), county development council,
to arrange everything connecting to the development,
- to handle the unemployment problems,
- to organize meetings for the rural people
-to prepare development plan for association,
Young economist
Young agricultural engineer
Sociologist
Unemployment professionals
It was a douptful job! Financial support from National Employment Foundation, or PHARE or Foundation of Entreprices for a short period.

9. Micro-regional Associations in Hungary in 2002
SZÉCHENYI ISTVÁN UNIVERSITY
Micro-regional Associations in Hungary in 2002

10. Municipal Associations
SZÉCHENYI ISTVÁN UNIVERSITY
Municipal Associations
Period 3 (since 2004) multi-purpose micro-regional association: the central government pressed the municipal associations in 2004 to take over municipal public service tasks in addition to the development activities. Although the municipal associations were not forced by law to take up such tasks, extra financial means were awarded to those associations that took at least three public services from the municipal self-governments belonging to the association.
Before this period - from the beginning the micro-regional cooperations were able, on completely voluntary basis, to assert the local wills and interests, but they have lost their initial momentum by period 3.

11. Institutional system of rural development
SZÉCHENYI ISTVÁN UNIVERSITY
Institutional system of rural development
Rural Development Associations: in 1999 another micro-regional cooperation started, this was the so-called SAPARD, or micro-regional cooperation with rural development purpose.
By 2000, 194 such cooperations were registered.
Tasks of these associations:
- the acquisition of SAPARD funds
- the assistance of the farmers in tendering
- the coordination of village renewal programmes
Each micro-regional cooperation was headed by a so-called rural development manager – rural animator?.
Hungary joined the European Union in 2004, accordingly SAPARD as a pre-accession fund ceased to exist
SAPARD: Support for Pre-Accession measures for Agriculture and Rural Development, a pre-accession aid programme

12. SZÉCHENYI ISTVÁN UNIVERSITY

13. Hungarian National Rural Network (MNVH)
SZÉCHENYI ISTVÁN UNIVERSITY
Hungarian National Rural Network (MNVH)
No. 1698/2005 of the Council of Europe, Par. 68, i.e. - “Each Member State shall establish a national rural network, which groups the organisations and administrations involved in rural development.”
Hungarian National Rural Network (HNRN) was established, but in the European Union Hungary was the only member state to authorise this organisation with national rural policy competencies.
This organisation can make recommendations at national level in rural policy, spatial development and infrastructure investment issues.
This organisation with its broad social support is a new type of rural policy tools, and also a social political force
This organisation created the system of Local Rural Development Offices (LRDO), which operated at micro-region (NUTS 4) level and was closely related to the local LEADER groups which are also members of the MNVH

14. Agricultural engineer Environmental engineer Engineer and informatics
Professions of employments in LEADER groups in Hungary
SZÉCHENYI ISTVÁN UNIVERSITY
Economist
Agricultural engineer
Teacher, social worker
Geographer
Environmental engineer
Lawyer
Engineer and informatics
Landscape engineer
Secondary degree
Others
Total
Western Transdanubia 21 3 7 -  8 2 9 1 57
Central-Hungary 6 4 31
Central-Transdanubia 17 10 14 5 11 65
Northen Hungary 26 15 19 98
Northen Great-Plain 12 73
Southern Transdanubia 16 78
Southern Great-Plain  - 23 83
116 76 77 24 39 20
103
485

15. NUTS II regions in Hungary
SZÉCHENYI ISTVÁN UNIVERSITY
NUTS II regions in Hungary

16. SZÉCHENYI ISTVÁN UNIVERSITY

17. MS.c programs connecting to rural development in Hungary
SZÉCHENYI ISTVÁN UNIVERSITY
MS.c programs connecting to rural development in Hungary
Program title
University Name
Department
City
MSc in Rural Development and Agribusiness
University of Debrecen
Faculty of Economics and Rural Development
Debrecen
Károly Róbert University
Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences
Gyöngyös
Szent István University
Gödöllő
University of Pannon
Georgikon Faculty
Keszthely
University of West Hungary
Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
Mosonmagyaróvár
Kaposvár University
Kaposvár
MSc in Rural Development
Corvinus University
Faculty of Economics
Budapest
Agricultural Environmental Management Engineer
MA in Tourism and Management
University of Pécs
Illyés Gyula Faculty
Szekszárd
MA in Regional and Environmental Economics
Széchenyi István University
Győr
Agricultural Engineer
Faculty of Agricultural Sciences
Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Landscape Architecture
Faculty of Landscape Architecture
MSc in Urban (civil) Engineering
Polláck Mihály Faculty of Engineering
Pécs
MSc in Environmental Engineering
Faculty of Engineering
Veszprém
Sopron
MSc in Regional and Environmental Economic Studies

18. SZÉCHENYI ISTVÁN UNIVERSITY
Conclusion
from the beginning there was demand on rural animators at micro- regional levels
from the beginning in the higher education system this complex education on rural expert was missing
from the middle of 90’s in the higher education system new programs and courses appeared connecting to the demand on rural animation
Since 2007 the institutional system has changed in rural development, 96 LAGs were launched generated 485 jobs in rural development
So far the profession of rural animator has not meet any higher education program.

19. Thank you for your attention!
SZÉCHENYI ISTVÁN UNIVERSITY
Thank you
for your attention!
Iren Kukorelli