Debrecen4U
August 13, 2026
More Than 20 Countries, Around 100 Participants: Linguistics Summer School Ends on High Note at University of Debrecen
The English-language international linguistics summer course OVA 2026 (Omnes Voces Acceptamus 2026) has come to an end. The two-week programme was organised for the first time by the Department of English Linguistics at the Institute of English and American Studies of the University of Debrecen’s Faculty of Humanities between 27 July and 7 August.
The two-week programme offered a wide range of courses covering different areas of linguistics, primarily syntax, semantics and phonology, from introductory-level classes through to advanced, research-oriented sessions. This meant that participants with different levels of prior knowledge could all find courses suited to their level, while also having the opportunity to present their ongoing research.
“It was a great pleasure to meet so many enthusiastic and talented students and lecturers during the summer months, and to see participants from so many parts of the world working together and supporting one another in their research. I hope that the professional connections forged in Debrecen will continue to support their work, and that they will be able to collaborate on joint projects and publications in the future, said” Balázs Venkovits, the Dean’s Commissioner for International and Scientific Affairs at the UD Faculty of Humanities and Director of the faculty’s Institute of English and American Studies (IEAS), following the conclusion of the course.
OVA is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase Omnes Voces Acceptamus, meaning ‘We welcome every voice’. This ethos was also reflected in the diversity of the participants, with students at bachelor’s, master’s and PhD level travelling to Debrecen from countries including Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey. They were joined by an international teaching team that ensured a high standard of lectures and classes.
At this year’s OVA summer school, 21 lecturers from 20 different universities taught courses in syntax, semantics, phonology, morphology and statistics.
“The OVA organising committee places particular emphasis on giving early-career researchers the opportunity to teach alongside experienced professors. In doing so, we not only want to support the professional development of young researchers, but also to give students the chance to meet a diverse range of inspiring role models. We are particularly proud of the high academic standard of this year’s courses, as well as the fact that many participants attended four or more hours of classes every day,” Berit Gehrke, a lecturer at Humboldt University of Berlin, told hirek.unideb.hu.
The teaching staff were just as diverse as the student body, with lecturers travelling to Debrecen from the universities of Barcelona, Berlin and Salzburg, as well as University College London and the University of Tromsø in Norway. The host institution was represented by Éva Kardos, associate professor in the Department of English Linguistics at the UD Faculty of Humanities’ IEAS.
“Organising and running OVA 2026 was a huge undertaking and a major challenge, but it also allowed us to demonstrate that the Department of English Linguistics at the University of Debrecen remains an active part of the international linguistics research community,” stressed Péter Szűcs, assistant professor in the Department of English Linguistics at the UD Faculty of Humanities’ Institute of English and American Studies. He organised the event together with Andrea Szávó, assistant lecturer, with numerous students from the institute also helping as volunteers.
Alongside the academic programme, the organisers also made sure that students had the opportunity to explore the city, learn about Hungarian culture and sample some of the highlights of Hungarian cuisine.
Debrecen proved to be an ideal location for an international summer school. The city is easy to explore even on foot and has numerous excellent restaurants, cafés and bars, which provided great opportunities for group activities and informal conversations. The parks were perfect for lunch breaks and evening relaxation, while the water park provided a welcome escape for participants during the heatwave weekend. Overall, Debrecen has set a very high bar for future locations of the OVA summer school,” added Magdalena Lohninger of the University of Salzburg on behalf of OVA.
The lecturers and students of the UD Faculty of Humanities’ IEAS have already been invited to take part in next year’s programme.
Source and photo credit: dehir.hu
