The Conservative Education research project is a major international initiative of the Mathias Corvinus Collegium Learning Institute, aiming to develop a coherent 21st-century framework for conservative thinking in education.
Launched in 2023, the project seeks to offer an alternative to dominant educational policy and pedagogical narratives, while rethinking the role of education in preserving cultural heritage and transmitting shared values.
At the core of the research lies the recognition that education is not merely about the transfer of skills, but also plays a fundamental role in maintaining cultural continuity, shaping intellectual formation, and fostering civic responsibility. The project places particular emphasis on classical education, historical knowledge, and civic education, especially in their European and transatlantic contexts.
A key component of the program is a comparative international research strand focusing on the content and practice of history teaching and civic education across different countries. Using a self-developed indicator framework, the research team analyzes similarities and differences between education systems and works towards a synthesizing model that supports the development of complex thinking in students.
The project is carried out in international collaboration, involving European and American partners as well as leading scholars and experts. It aims to build a sustainable professional network that contributes to the renewal of conservative educational thought and strengthens international academic dialogue.
Research findings are disseminated through conferences, workshops, and professional discussions addressing topics such as classical learning, the depoliticization of education, and the relationship between knowledge and skills. These activities ensure that the project has not only academic relevance but also a broader intellectual and societal impact.
Project Volumes
The results of the research program are summarized in several publications available in both Hungarian and English. These volumes present the project’s theoretical framework, the findings of international comparative analyses, and the key principles of classical and conservative education.
The publications place special emphasis on the role of history teaching and civic education, the transmission of cultural heritage, and the ways in which education can contribute to the development of critical thinking and intellectual attitudes.
Beyond presenting academic results, the volumes aim to articulate a comprehensive perspective that can serve as a reference point for educational policy and pedagogical thinking. They also reflect the work of an emerging international scholarly community and contribute to strengthening the discourse on conservative education in Europe and beyond.
https://www.libri.hu/konyv/Reclaiming-Classical-Education.html
