Created: 2025.03.14. 15:39
Professor Joseph Squillace from the Schuylkill campus of Pennsylvania State University was among the speakers at the international short study programme organised by the Deák Ferenc Faculty of Law and Political Sciences at Széchenyi István University. The one-week professional workshop focused on digital child protection and welcomed 19 Hungarian and American students.
The Winter Seminar is a prestigious scientific programme that has been a highlight of the Deák Ferenc Faculty of Law and Political Sciences for over a decade. This year, the one-week course addressed the issue of digital child protection, and students who completed the full programme received a micro-certificate. The high academic standard of the workshop was further enriched by the lecture of Professor Joseph Squillace, an expert from Pennsylvania State University, who discussed the dangers of online peer bullying (cyberbullying).
Dr Péter Smuk, Dean of the Deák Ferenc Faculty of Law and Political Sciences at Széchenyi István University; Dr Enikő Kovács-Szépvölgyi, Assistant Lecturer and Programme Coordinator; Dr Joseph Squillace, Professor at Pennsylvania State University; and Dr Roland Kelemen, Head of the Department of Modern Technology and Cybersecurity Law at Széchenyi István University, at the event (Photo: Gergely Nagy)
Dr Roland Kelemen, Head of the Department of Modern Technology and Cybersecurity Law at Széchenyi István University, previously visited the United States as a Fulbright Scholar and has since maintained a strong professional collaboration with his American colleagues. “Last year, I had the opportunity to deliver an online lecture at the University’s ‘Role of States in the 21st Century’ conference, and I was delighted to visit in person for this professional workshop,” said Dr Joseph Squillace, cybersecurity expert and assistant professor at Pennsylvania State University. He emphasised the importance of digital child protection, considering it a crucial area that deserves more attention. He praised the initiative aimed at expanding the knowledge of young professionals.
“My lecture focused on protecting children against so-called digital predators and the tools and resources available to them. Students gained insight into the challenges faced by victims of bullying or harassment and learned about the support systems they can access if needed,” explained the researcher. He also noted that this issue is a global concern and requires international solutions. “The best way to develop effective strategies for protecting young people is through cross-border programmes like this one and international collaborative research,” he added.
Professor Squillace and Dr Roland Kelemen have co-authored several scientific publications and plan to continue their collaborative work through future exchange programmes, research projects, and cybersecurity programmes. “If all goes well, I will spend a semester in Győr as a Fulbright Scholar starting this autumn, and we plan to bring some Pennsylvania State University students along to further explore this critical topic and expand our scientific cooperation. We aim to strengthen this partnership even further, facilitating knowledge transfer between the two institutions—particularly in the field of cybersecurity—while promoting student and faculty mobility for academic exchange,” outlined Dr Joseph Squillace.
The professional forum in Győr also welcomed Professor Marina Lazareva from the Moscow State Law Academy, whose students joined parts of the seminar online. The programme included lectures on children’s mental health and online presence, as well as legal challenges related to video games. The event also featured a field trip to Budapest, where participants visited the House of Terror Museum and the National Media and Infocommunications Authority. At these locations, experts from the Internet Hotline and the Bűvösvölgy Media Literacy and Education Centre delivered lectures and workshops for the attendees.
