Department of Sociology - Corvinus University of Budapest

12/12/2025

Meet our professors!

Lilla Vicsek, Sociology Doctoral School Professor and head of the program, presented on December 10th during a really engaging AI-focused afternoon at Corvinus University. The event featured an AI roundtable, a workshop on currently available AI resources at the university, and a session on AI regulation and ethics. It was organized for doctoral students across all doctoral schools at Corvinus and formed part of a broader series of doctoral events offered during the semester.

Prof. Dr. Lilla Vicsek has been researching the social and ethical dimensions of AI since 2018. Part of her work examines how visions of the future of work and automation are constructed across multiple arenas—media narratives, expert debates, and lay interpretations of one’s own prospects. She presented two studies within this thematic focus. The first investigates expert debates, showing that these discussions frequently frame technological change as an autonomous force, posing questions such as whether robots will replace human labour. Such technologically deterministic framings obscure the political, economic, and institutional choices through which technologies are shaped, diverting attention from issues of power, inequality, working conditions, and environmental sustainability. Forecasts often rest on problematic assumptions, extrapolate from transient hype cycles, and overlook uncertainty, societal dynamics, and the interests embedded in particular predictions. The second study explores individuals’ expectations about their personal futures in an automated labour market and the cognitive biases that inform these expectations. The findings of two representative surveys demonstrate that the psychological patterns are stratified by education and individual income, suggesting unequal capacities to interpret and prepare for anticipated change. Taken together, the two lines of inquiry show that imagined futures of work are not neutral projections but socially produced visions shaped by institutions, interests, cognitive tendencies, and wider cultural narratives about technology and its role in society.



Thank you to everyone who attended!

12/12/2025

Insights Into the Everyday Lives of PhD Researchers!

As we approach the end of the semester, our first-year cohort in the Sociology Doctoral School concluded one of the most engaging courses: In-Depth Interviewing: Advanced Methods, taught by Zoltan Dujisin.

Throughout the term, we explored themes such as research ethics, positionality, interviewing, and the evolving landscape of qualitative methods. Each session encouraged us not only to refine our methodological skills but also to reflect on our roles as researchers.

In our final class, we turned to storytelling as a method: a theme introduced in the readings and beautifully brought to life through an innovative, hands-on LEGO exercise. We built small characters, imagined their “superpowers,” and created narratives about the obstacles they face on their academic journeys. What began as a playful activity quickly became a meaningful reflection on how we understand challenges, seek solutions, and support each other as early-career researchers.

This session beautifully captured what we value most in our doctoral community:
✨ learning from each other,
✨ questioning assumptions,
✨ and embracing innovative approaches to research.

Here’s to carrying these lessons into our research, and to many more moments where creativity and methodology meet .

12/12/2025

Upcoming Event!

The Global Mobility Research Group at the Institute of Social and Political Sciences is delighted to welcome Professor Louise Ryan (London Met) to Budapest later this month for a lecture and a PhD workshop.

Professor Ryan is one of the most highly cited scholars globally, widely recognised for her influential work on migration and social networks.

🎤 Guest Lecture: Analysing Network Change Over Time: Using Longitudinal Qualitative Network Analysis in Research with Recently Arrived Refugees in London
📅 15 December, 10:00–11:30;📍 C VII.

🎓 PhD Workshop: Writing Academic Articles Based on Your PhD Research
📅 16 December, 10:00–11:30;📍 C510

We look forward to hosting her at Corvinus University and welcoming all interested colleagues and PhD students!

02/12/2025

What if migration isn’t about success, but about values?

Yesterday’s lecture by Fanni Beck, phd, organized by Adél Pásztor, convenor of the Global Mobility Research Group, at the Sociology Doctoral School, offered a powerful reframing of how we understand migration, success, and the search for a “good life.”

Fanni’s presentation, Periphery Dreams: Migration, Parenting, and Politics, explored the emerging phenomenon she terms “value-rational migration.” Drawing on seven years of ethnographic research in Hungary - where over 18,000 Chinese nationals received permanent residency through a golden visa scheme - she examines why increasing numbers of middle-class Chinese parents leave behind elite careers and high-pressure educational pathways in favor of slower, more meaningful lives on the European periphery.

A particularly striking aspect of the presentation was how this mobility trend intersects with evolving parenting cultures in China. Drawing on the classical story of Mencius’ mother moving houses three times to secure a better environment, she illustrated how today’s parents navigate between “tiger mother” and “Buddha mother” models, balancing ambition with wellbeing. The lingering social effects of the one-child policy continue to shape family expectations, emotional burdens, and societal pressures, making these decisions even more consequential.

Taken together, these dynamics show how the very idea of what constitutes a “good life” is being radically reinterpreted - not merely in terms of status or achievement, but in the quality of everyday life, parental presence, and the possibility of slowing down. This shift may even signal the beginning of a quiet middle-class revolution within China, challenging dominant narratives of success and mobility.

Fanni’s research, published in top journals such as the Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, Global Networks, and China Quarterly, offers a nuanced lens on how mobility, family life, and political imaginaries are transforming. As a Junior Fellow at the Corvinus Institute for Advanced Studies, she continues to bring sharp, thoughtful perspectives to global migration scholarship.

02/12/2025

🌟Meet Julia Gy Molnar – Representative of Sociology & Communication Doctoral Students at Corvinus🌟

We are happy to introduce Júlia Gy. Molnár, who represents the Sociology and Communication Science Doctoral School within the Doctoral Students’ Union (DSU/DÖK) at Corvinus University. As part of the DSU, Júlia is dedicated to supporting both current and prospective doctoral students. She works to represent students’ interests and ensure that everyone has access to the information they need throughout their PhD journey.

📣You can reach out to Júlia with questions about:
✦ The doctoral student experience at our school
✦ Administrative or organizational issues affecting doctoral students
✦ Funding, scholarships, mobility opportunities
✦ Community-building initiatives, events, and workshops
✦ Mentoring and guidance for new applicants, freshly admitted students, and those navigating later stages of their PhD

Her openness and student-focused mindset make her an excellent point of contact for anyone preparing to apply, just starting their academic journey or already well into their research.

🔗Learn more about the Doctoral Students’ Union (DSU): https://lnkd.in/d9XKwniB

19/11/2025

🌟Meet the Academic Leaders behind the Corvinus Doctoral School in Sociology & Communication🌟

Our Sociology and Communication Science PhD programs are guided by three inspiring scholars who shape a vibrant, interdisciplinary research community:

👩🏼‍🏫Prof. Dr. Lilla Vicsek – Professor, Sociology
A sociologist exploring the intersections of technology, society, and ethics. She analyses how individuals and institutions imagine, negotiate, and adapt to transformations driven by AI and other emerging technologies.

👩🏼‍🏫Prof. Dr. Beáta Nagy – Professor, Head of the Sociology PhD Program
A leading expert in gender and work, she brings deep insight into how social inequalities and workplace cultures evolve in Central and Eastern Europe.

👩🏼‍🏫Dr. Jessie Labov – Associate Professor, Communication and Media Science
Specialist in digital media and civic activism, she examines how digital platforms transform identity, participation, and cultural memory.

Together, they foster a supportive and intellectually vibrant environment where doctoral researchers can develop bold, interdisciplinary ideas.

🔗Learn more about our programs:
Sociology PhD → https://lnkd.in/dbbKgEP8
Communication Science PhD → https://lnkd.in/d2RcG3fR

12/11/2025

Writing a dissertation can be stressful. On November 10, our Doctoral School of Sociology and Communication Science held a workshop on stress-reduction methods to support PhD students in managing the challenges of academic life. The session was led by psychologist Zsófia Ujpál, who began by engaging participants in a discussion about their current stress levels and then introduced practical tools and simple, evidence-based techniques that can be easily integrated into daily routines.

The workshop provided a safe and supportive space for open conversations about the pressures of doctoral studies, highlighting the importance of well-being, motivation, and self-care throughout the PhD journey.

Thank you to everyone who participated and to Zsófia Ujpál for an insightful and engaging session!

27/02/2025

!!!!The application period for the Sociology Doctoral Program at Corvinus University of Budapest is fast approaching! If you would like to learn more about the program, visit the university's website or join us at the Ph.D. Café on March 6th.

Alongside other program heads, Lilla Vicsek will be there to answer any questions, and current sociology doctoral students will also be available to share their experiences. Feel free to reach out to her via email if you have any inquiries about the application process. !!!

About the Ph.D. café:

3MT Competition and Informal Discussion

20/11/2024

Study with Us – Gyertek hozzánk mesteres hallgatónak!
Új egyéves Diverzitásmenedzsment mesterszak / New 1-Year MSc in Diversity and Inclusion Management

Are you passionate about driving change and creating a more inclusive world? This one-of-a-kind interdisciplinary master’s program combines cutting-edge management training with a strong foundation in sociology, equipping you to become a leader in diversity, equity, and social justice.

Why choose this program?
📌 Innovative Training: Develop the skills to understand how diverse individual backgrounds and life experiences shape behaviours in workplaces and society.
📌 First in Hungary: The only program of its kind in the country, blending sociology, human resource management, and organizational behaviour.
📌 For Aspiring Leaders and Experienced Professionals: Whether you’re new to leadership or already have experience, the program builds your expertise in managing social dynamics and fostering inclusive environments.
📌 Flexible Study Options: Join the standalone one-year program or choose it as a one-year specialization within the two-year Management Master’s program.
Be part of the next generation of managers committed to transforming workplaces and championing inclusivity.
📅 Join us for our Open Day & discover how this program can shape your future: https://fb.me/e/697X6EsRe

More info: https://www.uni-corvinus.hu/post/landing-page/masters/msc-in-diversity-and-inclusion-management/?lang=en

06/09/2024

A múlt heti konferencia azért is volt különös számomra, mert megválasztottak az Európai Szociológia Társaság égisze alatt működő Nemzeti Szociológiai Társaságok tanácsa alelnökévé. Örömmel dolgozom együtt a kollégákkal, különösen a tanács elnökével, Peixotoval. A feladat szorosan összefügg a Magyar Szociológiai Társaságban betöltött tisztségemmel.
I am happy to announce that last week in Porto, I was elected Vice-Chair of the National Sociological Associations’ Council of the European Sociological Association. I am eager to work with my colleagues, particularly Peixoto, the Council’s chair.