The OVA 2026 (Omnes Voces Acceptamus 2026) international English-language summer school in linguistics 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 Faculty of Humanities at the University of Debrecen from July 27 to August 7. Around 100 participants from more than 20 countries expanded their knowledge of linguistics with the help of a distinguished international team of lecturers.
The two-week programme offered a wide range of courses covering various areas of linguistics, including syntax, semantics and phonology, from introductory-level classes to advanced, research-oriented sessions. This allowed participants with different academic backgrounds to find courses suited to their level while also providing opportunities for students 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 different parts of the world working together and supporting each other in their research. I hope that the professional connections established 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 Faculty of Humanities and director of the Institute of English and American Studies, following the conclusion of the programme.
OVA is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase Omnes Voces Acceptamus, meaning “We welcome all voices.”
The diversity of the participants reflected this spirit. Undergraduate, master’s and PhD students travelled to Debrecen from countries including Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey. They were taught by an international team of lecturers.
At this year’s OVA summer school, 21 lecturers from 20 universities taught courses in syntax, semantics, phonology, morphology and statistics.
“The OVA organising committee places particular emphasis on giving early-career researchers opportunities to teach alongside experienced professors. Through this, we aim not only to support the professional development of young researchers but also to give students the opportunity to meet a wide range of inspiring role models. We are particularly proud of the high academic standard of this year’s courses and of the fact that many participants attended four or more hours of classes each day,” said Berit Gehrke, a lecturer at Humboldt University of Berlin, to the hirek.unideb.hu portal.
The diversity was also reflected in the teaching staff. Lecturers travelled 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 at the Department of English Linguistics at the Institute of English and American Studies.
“Organising and running OVA 2026 was a huge task and a major challenge, but it also allowed us to demonstrate that the Department of English Linguistics at the University of Debrecen continues to be an active part of the international linguistic research community,” said Péter Szűcs, assistant professor at the Department of English Linguistics, who organised the event together with assistant lecturer Andrea Szávó. Their work was also supported by numerous students from the institute who volunteered during the programme.
Alongside the academic programme, the organisers also made sure that participants had the opportunity to explore Debrecen, learn about Hungarian culture and experience some of the country’s culinary traditions.
“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, providing great opportunities for group activities and informal conversations. Its parks were perfect for lunch breaks and evening relaxation, while the adventure pool provided welcome relief during the heatwave weekend. Overall, Debrecen has set the bar very high for future locations of the OVA summer school,” added Magdalena Lohninger of the University of Salzburg on behalf of OVA.
Lecturers and students from the Faculty of Humanities’ Institute of English and American Studies at the University of Debrecen have already been invited to take part in next year’s programme.
(unideb.hu)
