Hungary National Insurance Training Centre, Biztositas Oktatasi Intézet István Fogarasi Director Fehérvari u. 179 H -1119 Budapest Phone: *36 1 208 12 25 Fax: *36 1 208 12 37 Website: www.mabisz.hu E-Mail: fogarasi@boi.datanet.hu The National Insurance Training Centre (NITC) Following the quick privatisation of the Hungarian insurance industry, the philosophy of insurance companies has greatly changed. They have developed a deeper responsibility for long-term professional progress in the industry. In 1992, the Association of Hungarian Insurance Companies (MABISZ) undertook the task of establishing an educational and training institute that would respond to the continuous needs of all insurance companies, and enhance the level of knowledge and professionalism throughout the insurance industry. As a result of the preparatory efforts, NITC started functioning as a professional school in 1994. In the school year of 1994/1995, the credit requirements and curriculum for Insurance Business Assistants’ intermediate courses, and for Insurance Advisors’ advanced courses, have been developed, and approved. Consequently, both qualifications have been included in the National Qualification Register, and the examinations in both fields have become recognised by the competent authorities. Since the beginning of these training courses, 134 students passed the intermediate level examinations, and 171 students received qualifications in advanced insurance advisor courses. Currently, about 200 students are attending the different classes offered by the Institute. In addition to the two insurance qualifications, there are other programs, ranging from introductory to advanced specialist levels, and covering a wide variety of market areas. A third insurance qualification, "insurance intermediary” is under development. The range of programme includes, among others: training for increasing the productivity of professionals, basic examination sessions for salesmen, consultancy in examination techniques, methodology training, computer technology courses, and international workshops. At the present time, approximately 10,000 sales agents have passed their basic examinations. In 1996 NITC signed an agreement with The Life Underwriting Training Council (LUTC), an American non-profit organisation for the adaptation of their training program for sales staff. As a result, the LUTC courses become popular, about 800 agents passed one of these courses and received the bilingual Certificate. The SOTE Medical University, the Health Insurance Fund Administration, and the National Insurance Training Centre endorsed a co-operation agreement, in order to prepare the accreditation of medical underwriting education at the Institute. The education of specialists in medical underwriting is expected to start in the second half of the year 2000. The Institute is continuously developing the technical requirements and its curriculum to meet the ever-changing needs of the insurance industry, and to elevate the professional standards and general knowledge in the industry. The realisation of an open distance learning system is a task of strategic importance for the Institute. This system is based on a modular framework, promoting independent study by each participant. The Institute aims to integrate the information technology facilities into its education system in the very near future.