In the autumn semester of the 2023/24 academic year, students chose Izabella Kuncz as the nicest teacher of the semester. In our interview, we asked her what led her to this career and what are the beauties and difficulties of teaching.
Written by: Katalin Bogos, cover picture: Korsós Gábor
Becoming a teacher
“As a little child, I wanted to be a teacher because my mother was one, however, she tried to change my mind”
– she said. Since mathematics was her favorite subject and she saw great potential in the field, she chose economics as her direction of further studies, which she began studying here at Corvinus. In her third year, she was asked to be a demonstrator in macroeconomic modeling, which she was pleased to accept. As a demonstrator, she had to hold consultations, which were attended by almost the whole group that year, so it was similar to holding a seminar. She liked it, so she stayed for doctoral studies and later became a university adjunct.
“At the end of the day, teaching became my career, so I can say that my childhood dream was fulfilled.”
She also shared that she loves the atmosphere at Corvinus and is delighted to be able to teach in her old school.
“Studying economics is important because it’s part of our everyday lives.”
According to Izabella Kuncz, knowing the basic concepts of economics is essential, as we encounter them on a daily basis, and in many life situations, such as in the case of taking a loan, they are necessary to make the right decision. Kuncz Izabella also presented her current research on the impact of demographic transformation on economic growth. In several countries, the average number of births per woman of childbearing age has fallen below one, and fertility is declining in developing countries as well. As a result of this trend, the working age group will also decrease, and research is looking at its sustainability and economic impacts.
Everyday life
Kuncz Izabella said that from the outside it may seem monotonous to teach the same subject again and again, but in reality, only the name of the subject and the theoretical material coincide, the tasks and case studies are constantly updated, and some subjects are reconsidered from year to year.
“The goal is to improve the curriculum based on the students’ abilities continuously and what will be most useful to them later on.”
Her favorite subject is the macroeconomics of first-year students, as it can be emphasized then how important this area is. Secondly, she mentioned modeling, where more complex models have to be solved.
As the greatest difficulty of teaching, she highlighted keeping up with time, given that they need to adapt constantly to new trends, both from a technical and generational point of view. In her view, current tendencies show that it is harder to maintain students’ attention, so the standard form of teaching is no longer effective, which she wants to compensate by increasing interactivity, playing games and asking questions. At the same time, constantly improving technologies such as artificial intelligence raise regulatory issues. She believes that it is important to communicate with students and clarify the exact boundaries. Her opinion is that artificial intelligence is useful to be applied in several areas, but one must also be aware of its limitations and, not use it as given.
“What motivates me? Definitely the students.”
She explained that the greatest achievement for her is when the students understand the material. She aims to provide a plus that students will be able to use later in their studies, work, or everyday life. “I always feel boosted when I go to a class because it’s so nice to work with them” – she explained to what the students give her. In her opinion, if the teacher creates the right atmosphere, then students feel free to actively participate and ask questions, therefore the lessons can be inspiring.
“It’s always good when students say they’ve managed to love the subject with them”
– she said, and then added that she is always pleased by positive feedback either verbal or written.
The Prize
According to Izabella Kuncz, an instructor is good primarily if they are student-centered, meaning that they pay attention to the needs of the students and adapt the materials and tasks accordingly. She also highlighted helpfulness and enthusiasm as important qualities, as they encourage students to participate actively in classes. In addition to engaging in the conversation, she also emphasized that the teacher should motivate the preparation from class to class so students can learn the material in the long run. This is achieved primarily with small homeworks and group works, which can be useful for later examinations as well. Students are first and foremost advised to make friends, enjoy their free time and take advantage of the opportunities ahead of them, whether it be an internship, an overseas semester, or a college.
In her view, she was awarded the prize because the students found her friendly and direct, to whom they could turn with their problems at any time. She was very delighted with the nomination, provided that it is direct feedback from the students. At the gala, she was very excited and proud to receive the award, as it was the second student award she won over the years.
“For me, the highest honor is what I get from the students, thank you very much for the nomination.”
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