Knowledge management is extremely important in driving efficiency and progress in modern education and organisational development, according to the experts in the first episode of the Csomópont (Hub) podcast. The personal stories and professional experiences shared by the invited panellists all point in the direction of how public education and higher education are connected to knowledge management concepts in many ways: how learning organisations work, the inner world of schools and how we talk, communicate and live together. So together with the guests of the podcast – Dr. Szilvia Tóth-Mózer, Eva Tóth and Tibor Dőri – we looked at what the miracle of educational knowledge management is and how we can use it in our everyday lives.

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For centuries, the creation of knowledge capital has been the privilege of a narrow elite, with universities, researchers, industry experts, cultural intellectuals, public thinkers producing a large part of the intellectual wealth and successfully establishing the right to own knowledge capital – which they then either shared or not. The latter, of course, could have had many reasons, from industry secrecy to knowledge competition. 

Today, with more than 8 billion people on the planet, the number of higher education institutions multiplied, the developing world involved in the production of knowledge capital, artificial intelligence producing more and more intellectual products in virtually unlimited quantities, and companies producing so much data and documents year after year, than in all the previous years combined, the big question is no longer who will create the knowledge capital, i.e. produce it, but who will organise it, share it consciously and in a comprehensible way, and translate it for knowledge transfer institutions such as education. 

The importance of knowledge management

The discussion focused on the importance of knowledge management in education and organisational development. The participants had different perspectives on this issue. Szilvia Tóth-Mózer explained that she is currently focusing more on competence development in higher education, with a special focus on digital competences of teachers. Digital competences are becoming increasingly important in higher education, and trainings, consultations and support materials are needed for trainers to work effectively in the current educational environment. Tibor Dőri highlighted the importance of knowledge transfer and interdisciplinary collaboration within organisations in his introduction, arguing that interdisciplinary collaboration enables innovation and the linking of fragmented knowledge elements. Éva Tóth, as a practising educator, drew attention to the importance of personality and practical knowledge in education. She stressed that students are more likely to enjoy a subject if they feel a connection with the communication style and personality of their instructor.

The challenges of knowledge management in higher education

Knowledge management in education faces specific challenges. Universities have a long history and are of paramount importance for researchers. Universities aim to promote knowledge production and support researchers,” said Szilvia Tóth-Mózer. However, demand generation and the use of credible sources are also crucial for the effective transfer of knowledge.Interdisciplinary cooperation also allows for the creation of new courses and the effective and multidisciplinary linking of different knowledge elements, for example, in some projects several universities can jointly create new courses to strengthen knowledge transfer. She also explained that teaching is often a solitary activity and that communication and knowledge sharingbetween colleagues is essential for progress, and stressedthe key importance of constant contact, inspiration and consistency of values.

Organisational development and knowledge management

In the field of organisational development, knowledge management plays an essential role in increasing efficiency and improving organisational culture. In addition to a commitment to technology, software and innovation, demand creation and knowledge sharing are essential for successful knowledge management,” said Tibor Dőri. In a lively and exciting discussion on organisational culture issues, it also emerged that allowing and supporting mistakes and celebrating the successes of others (partners, colleagues, etc.) are also essential in organisational learning processes. Tibor also explained that organisational values and the environment can inspire learners and staff to share knowledge and innovate, which requires a physical space that reflects the organisational culture, and that several European initiatives have been launched in this regard, with the Hungarian Association for Digital Education and Learnitect Design Ltd., which owns the rights to the Csomópont podcast, playing an active role in Hungary (Erasmus+ programme grant agreement number: 2023-1-HU01-KA210-SCH-000152699).

A good facilitator can also serve to reinforce organisational learning. Also discussed during the discussion was the book The Future of Learning – Focus on the Facilitator, published by Silvia in 2022 (which can be downloaded for free from the description of the YouTube video). Facilitators have an important role to play in sharing knowledge and facilitating learning at all levels of the organisation and learning organisation. In supporting both learning and organisational learning, facilitators need to be able to tune in to the group and its needs, and it is important to create harmony between individuals and interests. Facilitators need to have a range of skills to support effective knowledge sharing, for example in research, personalised learning and conflict management,” said the discussion.

Interdisciplinary teams, eTwinning, Modern School

Éva Tóth, a lecturer at the Petrik vocational training institute in Budapest, eTwinning ambassador and editor-in-chief of Modern School, was present – in person – on our programme. Éva pointed out that eTwinning is a good example of a professional community as a key element of effective knowledge management in schools. And in the eTwinning programme, as one of the national custodians of this, the promotion of international cooperation and project pedagogy is coming to the fore. International projects, such as eTwinning, offer teachers great opportunities for professional development and the acquisition of new skills. Such projects allow for the development of professional and personal contacts and intercultural cooperation. In secondary education, the characteristics of learning organisations – individual commitment, belief in organisational learning and support for leaders – also play a big role,” added Éva Tóth. It is very good if students are actively involved in decision-making and in the organisation of learning-teaching and pedagogical projects.

Éva also sees Modern School as a kind of professional community that helps to build relationships between teachers and support teachers. The magazine for teachers covers current issues in the field of education and provides professional support for education professionals, while its current news, analysis and interviews also draw attention to the indispensable players who are often the anonymous heroes of our education system – special education teachers, school secretaries or school psychologists.

Complex experts at home in several worlds

Each of the panellists has a range of expertise, which has specifically facilitated the sharing of knowledge on the air and the ability to cover a very broad horizon on the topic. 

Members of the table

Dr. Szilvia Tóth-Mózer

As a psychologist, educator and digital methodologist, it is important to her that university lecturers are equipped with the necessary methodological knowledge to teach in online learning environments. Since 2016, she has been working at ELTE’s Department of Educational Development and Talent Management, assisting managers in the development of the university’s elearning strategy, as well as participating in course development projects, mentoring, coordinating projects, writing, training and lecturing on learning management systems and digital methodology. In the past, he has taught mainly pedagogy and teacher training students as assistant lecturer and lecturer. She prefers individual and group consultations, where she can reflect with the lecturers on how to broaden their course toolbox and find the most appropriate solutions for them and their students. More recently, it has been developing online self-paced digital literacy courses for university lecturers and students. And as a course designer, you can do creative work that really keeps you in the flow.

Éva Tóth

She is a teacher of English at the Petrik Lajos Vocational High School of the BMSZC. She previously taught disadvantaged students for 6 years, during which time she learned a lot from them and about the school environment. She is an active participant in Digital Theme Week and Coding Week, because project pedagogy gives her a great opportunity as an educator to develop students’ 21st century skills by combining subjects. She has been an active member of the eTwinning community for almost 10 years and has been involved in 11 European eTwinning certified projects. He considers it particularly important that his projects are linked to vocational education and training, as vocational students are in great need of collaborative work to develop 21st century skills.  As an ambassador, she is able to highlight the benefits of the programme through her personal experience in partner search, project delivery and training. As Editor-in-Chief of Modern School, she aims to bring useful professional content to one of Hungary’s largest educational magazines, enriching the world of education for teachers.

Tibor Dőri

Organisational developer, coach, trainer, blended/e-learning, adult education, teacher training, knowledge management and CoP (community of practice) expert. He is the President of the Hungarian Association for Digital Education (MDOE) and Director of Central European Management Standard nKft. as the contractual successor of Euro-Contact Business School (the exclusive Hungarian representative of the British Open University Business School between 1989 and 2012). For 20 years, he was a leading trainer and instructor at the Open University UK in Hungary. Coach, trainer and senior consultant in the fields of strategic and operational management, strategic organisational development and change management. Expert in blended learning training supported by ICT, digital tools and applications. Coordinator, expert or lead expert in several national and international projects within MDOE. Through her training activities, she shares content in niche areas such as the digitalisation of vocational education and training, the effective use of the SELFIE self-evaluation system, the development of schools as organisations and the improvement of learning environments. 

Bertalan Péter Farkas, editor-in-chief

A knowledge manager, knowledge management consultant with a coherent view of the field at global level. In his day-to-day work, he provides global knowledge management for management consultants and coaches, and as an entrepreneur he works to promote the education scene in his home country and Europe. After a few years of teaching, she worked for government agencies (Educatio, EMET, Tempus) and headed the Knowledge Management team of the Tempus Public Foundation for almost 6 years. As managing director of Learnitect Design Ltd. he is involved in knowledge management and design of learning spaces for knowledge transfer, online and offline learning management, design of community spaces and international project management. He conceived the idea for the Csomópont podcast in 2022, which finally became a reality in autumn 2023, after lengthy discussions, negotiations and recording of the broadcasts.

The Csomópont podcast is Hungary’s first knowledge management podcast, a place about knowledge and knowledge management, where original people, inspiring ideas, engaging community and corporate stories, carefully crafted lines and a dash of public thinking come together.

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Thank you for the support of our media partner, Modern School!

This content was produced with funding from the European Union. The opinions and statements expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Union or the European Agency for Education and Culture (EACEA). Grant agreement number: 2023-1-HU01-KA210-SCH-000152699.