Venes Carmelo Banquiles – Coordinator of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
GIVEN NAME: Venes Carmelo
FAMILY NAME: Banquiles
FACULTY: International Student Faculty Coordinator, Faculty of Arts
NATIONALITY: Filipino
STUDY PROGRAM: MA in Cultural Anthropology
YEAR OF APPOINTMENT: 2022
EMAIL: isan@uni-miskolc.hu
- WHEN DID YOU START YOUR STUDIES AND WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE UNIVERSITY OF MISKOLC?
I started my studies at the UM in September 2021. I only had two reasons for choosing the University of Miskolc. First, because of its long standing tradition of teaching anthropology, which is the discipline that I am interested in. UM's department of anthropology has been there for decades, proof that it has already established itself as a premier school of anthropology in the country. The second reason was because of its location. I used to live in my country's capital and that exhausted me in many ways. Seeing the university's location, I was attracted to the Hungarian countryside. Miskolc simply seemed to offer silence and a rather relaxed atmosphere, and certainly my observation was right.
- WHY DO YOU LIKE TO STUDY IN MISKOLC?
I like to study in Miskolc because it offers lots of practical advantages, its easy to make new international friends, and it offers a very relaxed atmosphere conducive for my studies.
- HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE YEARS:
I see myself working in the many workplaces where anthropology equips me with the necessary skills to be in. It could be in the corporate world, the academia, the NGO sector, or any cause that advances the pursuits that anthropology is of great use for, and is interested in.
- WHAT KIND OF CAREER PROSPECTS DOES MISKOLC OFFER TO INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS?
No sugarcoating, but Miskolc hardly has any career prospects for international students due to some factors, and I'd like to name at least two of them. First, in Hungary things are rather centralized in Budapest. While there are other big Hungarian cities, most of the job postings are located in the capital. And in Miskolc, while English speaking skills are increasingly becoming a must, such are of no great use as companies still prefer people who speak the local language. Secondly, there are very few opportunities in Miskolc especially for students like me who come from the social sciences. While there are international companies operating in Miskolc, these prospective workplaces are very concentrated to some professional competencies particularly those that have something to do with engineering. While I cannot speak in behalf of everyone, the reality is just not as kind to me as an anthropologist.
- WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF YOUR WORK AS A FACULTY COORDINATOR?
The work has just begun so I hardly have any idea where this position will bring me. But I think what will be the most fulfilling part of the job is that I'll be a humble piece of the first Miskolc stories the incoming students will have when they get in the university. To help people at a very crucial moment of their lives is I think a noble act worth being proud of.