Negotiation Skills and Economic Concepts

Introduction to Academic Life, Language Learning, Critical Thinking

• This topic likely covers foundational information about academic life, language learning strategies, and critical thinking skills.
• Expect a general introduction and overview to the subject.
• The notes may include pointers on successfully adapting to university study and learning.

Admission to a University in Hungary

• The application process involves using the Hungarian higher education admission system "Felvi.hu."
• Applicants need to choose their preferred universities and programs.
• Necessary documents include high school diploma, language proficiency (if required), and entrance exams.
• Some programs require passing entrance exams or tests.
• Admission results and notification are announced on "Felvi.hu."
• If accepted, the university sends a text message and/or formal letter of admission.

Enrollment at the University

• Students must confirm acceptance through the university's online system or in person.
• Some institutions require a tuition deposit to secure a place.
• Original documents (diploma, ID, etc.) are submitted during enrollment.
• Students receive a student ID card, potentially with discounts.
• Orientation sessions cover the campus, resources, and university life.

Course Registration

• Students should adhere to the academic calendar for course registration periods.
• Use the university's online system (e.g., Neptun) to register for courses.
• Select mandatory and elective courses, following the program curriculum.
• Confirm course selections before the deadline.
• Pay tuition fees, possibly by confirming a student loan arrangement.

Attending Classes and Exams

• Attend scheduled lectures and seminars (seminars are compulsory).
• Maintaining good attendance can impact exam eligibility.
• Complete assignments, quizzes, and mid-term exams as part of continuous assessment.
• Participate in group projects and presentations.
• Register and prepare thoroughly for final exams, which have a significant impact on grades.
• The grading system typically follows a 1-5 scale.
• Check grades online.

Obtaining Your Degree

• Completing all required credits (including electives and mandatory courses) is necessary.
• Submit required thesis or final project and defend it before a panel (lecturers).
• Participate in the graduation ceremony to receive a diploma.
• Obtain the official degree certificate, valid across the EU.
• Consider further studies (Masters, PhD) or enter the job market.

Additional Information

• Utilize university student services for support (including counseling).
• Participate in extracurricular activities (such as clubs and sports).
• Explore Erasmus+ opportunities for study abroad.
• Join the alumni network to gain lifelong learning and networking.

Overview of Higher Education Levels in Hungary

• Higher education in Hungary is structured into three levels: Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral (PhD).
• Each level builds upon the previous, with increasing specialization and advanced knowledge.

Bachelor's Degree (BSc/BA)

• Typical duration: 3 to 4 years (180-240 ECTS credits).
• Admission requirements: High school diploma and specific subject requirements.
• Entrance exams for certain programs.
• Curriculum: A combination of core subjects, electives, and practical training, usually culminating in a final thesis or project.
• Outcome: Provides foundational knowledge and skills in a specific field; prepares graduates for either the workforce or a Master's program.

Master's Degree (MSc/MA)

• Typical duration: 1 to 2.5 years (60-150 ECTS credits)
• Admission requirements: A Bachelor's degree in a related field, language proficiency, and possibly a qualifying exam or interview
• Curriculum: More specialized advanced courses, research components, projects, and internships, culminating in a Master's thesis involving independent research.
• Outcome: Prepares graduates for specialized careers or further study in PhD-level programs.

Doctoral Degree (PhD)

• Typical duration: 4 years (or more), depending on research progress.
• Admission requirements: An MSc/MA degree in a related field, a research proposal or topic submission, and potentially an entrance exam or interview.
• Curriculum: Focuses on independent research, methods, topics; includes participation in conferences, and teaching duties, leading to a dissertation.
• Outcome: Highest academic qualification; prepares graduates for careers in academia, research, or specialized industrial roles.

Comparison of BSc, MSc, and PhD

• BSc: Broad and foundational; typically 3-4 years; outcome often includes entry-level employment.
• MSc: Specialized and advanced; typically 1-2.5 years; outcome could be specialized roles or PhD admission.
• PhD: Research-focused and original; typically 4 (or more) years; outcome includes high academic credentials and specific career paths.

Post-graduation Opportunities

• After BSc: Employment, further studies.
• After MSc: Specific professional roles in industry, pursuing a PhD.
• After PhD: Academic roles, research roles, consulting, or specialized expert positions.

Assistant Lecturer (Tanársegéd)

• An entry-level academic position for early-career researchers or those pursuing a PhD.
• Responsibilities: Primarily teaching introductory courses and sessions, and supporting faculty members with course preparation and delivery.
• The position typically requires a master's degree, along with basic teaching experience (often gained during postgraduate studies), and a demonstrated interest in academic research and teaching.

Assistant Professor/Senior Lecturer (Adjunktus)

• Early to mid-career academic position focused on building a research portfolio. Often a transitional role for those aspiring to associate professorships.
• Responsibilities: Teaching undergraduate and sometimes graduate courses, conducting research published in journals, assisting in supervising undergraduate and master's students, and participating in conferences and professional development..
• The role requires a PhD degree and demonstrated potential in research and teaching; and evidence of initial publications and conference presentations, implying involvement within academic and professional communities.

Associate Professor (Docens)

• A mid-level academic position considered a stepping stone to full professorship; combines teaching, research and administrative duties.
• Responsibilities: Teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, conducting and managing independent research, supervising graduate students, contributing to the department's administrative activities, and curriculum development..
• The role requires a PhD and substantial research contributions, several years of teaching experience, and often includes a formal habilitation, demonstrating expertise in specialist fields.

University Professor/Full Professor (Egyetemi Tanár, Professzor)

• The highest academic rank in Hungarian universities.
• Responsibilities: Leading academic departments, overseeing research projects, shaping academic policies, teaching courses (from undergraduate to doctoral levels), and publishing in high-impact journals.
• The role needs significant academic publications and extensive research and teaching experience; a formal habilitation (postdoctoral qualification) along with peer and institutional recognition is often needed.

Business Foreign Language Development

• Vocabulary expansion strategies: contextual learning, active usage, spaced repetition.
• Avoiding rote memorization and developing language proficiency in real-world contexts.
• Utilizing resources for autonomous learning (such as language learning apps, online platforms, and real-life practice).
• Practical tips for a lifelong learning process (e.g., setting realistic goals, integrating language learning, engage with authentic content, maintain a vocabulary journal).
• Types of dictionaries (ranging from monolingual, bilingual, to specialized).
• Common mistakes to avoid in language learning are over-reliance on direct translations, ignoring multiple meanings, mispronunciation, and not engaging the language practically.

Ways to use authentic media in language learning

• Resources include YouTube TV, NETFLIX, Paramount+, MAX, hulu, prime, fubo, Apple TV+, and peacock.
• Using authentic materials (videos, TV shows, and others) improves language acquisition and provides real-world examples of language use.

Extramural English Activities

• Extramural activities are language learning activities outside the formal classroom.
• Types of Extramural activities: Watching English movies or TV shows; listening to English-language music or podcasts; reading books, articles, or blogs in English; engaging in conversations with native speakers (online or in person).
• Benefits of these activities include: immersion in the target language as it's naturally used by native speakers, opportunity for practicing language skills in real-world contexts, increased motivation through enjoyable activities.

Introduction to "Language Reactor"

• Language Reactor (formerly Language Learning with Netflix or LLN) is a browser extension enhancing language acquisition.
• It provides dual subtitles in two languages, so learners see translation simultaneously with the content; vocabulary highlighting helps learner focus on new/ unfamiliar words for practice; the interactive dictionary of the subtitles gives further details.
• The phrase-by-phrase playback feature allows users to pause and repeat individual phrases, making difficult phrases easier to understand.

Searching for Academic Literature

• Employing keywords related to your research topic.
• Using synonyms and related terms to broaden your search.
• Utilizing academic databases (like Google Scholar, JSTOR, PubMed, or institutional library resources).
• Refining search results with filters, such as publication date, and relevance.
• Evaluating source credibility by considering the author's qualifications, publication venue, and citations.

Citing Sources Properly

• Proper citation gives credit to original authors, strengthening arguments.
• Adhere to common citation styles (like APA, Chicago, Harvard).
• Utilize citation guides or digital tools (like Zotero, EndNote, or citation generators) for accuracy.
• Integrate citations smoothly into your text using quotation or paraphrasing.
• Ensure in-text citations match the full references in your bibliography or works cited page.

Critical Reading in Writing Assignments

• Combining information from various sources to create a cogent argument, showing how sources support or contradict each other.
• Using sources to support claims, providing evidence and examples.
• Maintaining your own voice and argument, using sources to support your analysis, but don't let sources replace your own analysis.
• Avoid over-reliance on a single source by using various sources.
• Avoiding misinterpretations of sources.
• Consult additional sources or discuss with peers when unsure
• Always cite sources for quotations and paraphrased material to avoid plagiarism. Use plagiarism detection tools to check prior submissions.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• AI processes large amounts of data quickly and efficiently to identify patterns.
• Routine tasks may be automated and predictions based on data produced.
• The accuracy of AI is limited by the quality of the data the system was trained on. It can struggle with understanding context, reason like humans, or nuance.
• The use of AI may be limited in the context of academic writing and students should ensure authenticity.

How to Enhance Your Studies with AI (ChatGPT)

• Using ChatGPT for complex topics: Simplify explanations, use analogies or step-by-step breakdowns.
• Writing assistance: Brainstorming ideas, creating outlines for essays or research papers.
• Research support: gathering information, finding key points, or summarizing articles.
• Language learning: Practicing conversations, translating sentences or explaining language nuances.
• Exam preparation: Mock quizzes and summaries.

Describing Trends in Macroeconomic Indicators

• This section likely involves macroeconomic indicators (like GNP, GDP, inflation, exchange rates, employment).
• Expect an overview of trends, possibly using charts or graphs.
• Understanding how to describe those trends is important.

Macroeconomics vs. Microeconomics

• Macroeconomics: Studies national income, employment, overall price levels, and supply & demand in the macroeconomic market.
• Microeconomics: Studies individual income, employment in labour markets, individual price levels and supply & demand for goods.

The Six Key Macroeconomic Indicators

• Real Gross Domestic Product
• Inflation rate
• Unemployment rate
• Interest rate
• Level of stock market
• Exchange rate

GDP (Gross Domestic Product) -GNI (Gross National Income)

• GDP: The total value of goods and services produced within a country's borders in a specific period of time.
• GDP per capita: A measurement of GDP per person in a country's population; a metric of output or income.
• GDP growth rate: Compares the year-over-year (or quarterly) change in a country's economic output, which is used to assess economic performance.

Real GDP Growth Rate

• Real economic growth rate removes inflation, unlike nominal GDP.
• Useful for policy makers to estimate economic growth over time and compare rates of growth in different time periods, in similar economies and with differing inflation rates.
• Base year and real GDP is a comparison point for GDP data.

Gross National Income (GNI)

• GNI is the total income earned by citizens of a country. It includes income earned domestically and abroad; offering different perspectives than GDP.
• GNI may be a better metric for economic health compared to GDP in increasingly globalized economies.
• This is particularly relevant when significant income is earned from foreign corporations and/or individuals residing in the country under examination.

Inflation

• Inflation rate measures average price increases for a basket of goods over a period of time (usually one year).
• The basket typically represents commonly consumed goods and services. Its elements include food, drinks, clothing, transport and more.
• This metric estimates the rate of inflation and calculates the Annual Consumer Price Index (CPI).
• Deflation is when prices fall, and purchasing power increases.

Unemployment

• Unemployment is a situation where a person actively seeks employment but cannot find work.
• Unemployment rate is calculated by dividing the number of unemployed people by the total labor force (employed + unemployed).
• Types: Frictional (when people are voluntarily switching jobs) and cyclical (during economic recessions and booms). Structural unemployment occurs from technological changes causing jobs to disappear.

Interest Rates

• Interest is a charge for borrowing an asset (money, vehicle, property). Higher interest rates mean higher borrowing costs.
• Base rate/Central bank rate is the interest rate at which a nation's central bank lends money to its domestic banks.
• Lower base rates encourage economic expansion by decreasing the cost of borrowing whereas higher rates cool economic growth.
• Mortgages are loans used for purchasing real estate.

Exchange Rate

• Nominal exchange rate is at when the currency of one country is exchanged for another.
• Real exchange rate, at which a good or service produced in one country might be exchanged for another.
• Exchange rates are critically important in global trade as a significant factor in international trade and investments.

Pros and Cons of Using GDP as a Development Indicator

• GDP measures output, but doesn't account for income inequality or non-market transactions. It also doesn't measure income transferred to another country.

Business Cycles

• Business cycles are comprised of cyclical upswings and downswings in economic activity, including measures of output, employment, income, and sales.
• Business cycles are defined by generally similar overall changes in the same period in a variety of economic indicators, rather than exact periodicity.

Line Graphs

• Graphs with two axes; the horizontal or x-axis and the vertical or y-axis. Typically indicate the value of an item over a period of time.

Bar Charts

• Charts that use bars to represent data. Often used to compare quantities across categories.

Pie Charts

• Charts that illustate proportional data using sections of a circular graph, to represent parts of a whole (e.g., the allocation of quarterly sales).

Pictograms

• Pictograms use symbols to represent data. Common in education as graphical representations of quantitative data, often used so students easily grasp the data presented.

Useful Graph/Chart Vocabulary

• Useful vocab is provided for explaining various trends presented in graphs. This includes verbs to describe upward, downward or fluctuating trends along with words defining stability or change, along with words identifying important graphical elements

Further study material

• Provide links to helpful multimedia or resources for further study.

This quiz explores key elements of negotiation, including essential skills, strategies to avoid misunderstandings, and actions post-agreement. It also delves into fundamental economic concepts such as deflation and the calculation of unemployment rates. Test your knowledge on how negotiation techniques can influence economic outcomes.