Enhance the developing and understanding of Hungarian maritime heritage – Research final report

Text by Csaba Horváth

I conducted this research on Hungarian maritime heritage as part of a project that received funding from Sail Training International's 2024 Research Grant Fund. Of the topics offered by the Research Grant Fund, I chose "Enhance the developing and understanding of Hungarian maritime heritage" because it allowed me to gather information from Hungarian young people who had participated in various school ship events and school ships over the past 14 years.

The survey also asked for the opinions of young people and older age groups who had not yet participated in tall ship events, or who were perhaps unfamiliar with them. The areas researched were therefore not only related to tall ships, but also to the past and present of Hungarian maritime shipping in general: how familiar are Hungarian people living in the landlocked country with certain elements of our maritime heritage dating back to the distant past? The research also provided an opportunity to draw the attention of the respondents to sail training and its potential.

I conducted the research between May and October 2025 using online questionnaires through an automated process. During this period 1125 responds arrived in total. (The goal was to receive at least 1000 valid responses.) The main target group was the high school students aged between 14 and 18 years, and university students between 19 and 26 years. However, the questionnaire also allowed older people (who are still working) aged 27–40 and 41–65, as well as retirees over the age of 65, to respond. The geographical area of the research was primarily Hungary, but I also included educational institutions providing Hungarian-language education in former Hungarian territories in the neighbouring countries. At the same time, I also received responses from Hungarians living in other countries, even from New Zealand or the USA.

Click on the image of the report cover or download the Research Final Report here, the English version of which has already been received by the STI Application Committee.