György Appel

He started working as a teacher in primary schools (Budapest XVI., Békés I. Primary School; Kálmán Street Primary School in the XX. District). He then became a head teacher at the Kossuth Lajos Bilingual High School.

From 1980 he became the chief supervisor of the National Pedagogical Institute (OPI). His task - within the framework of the Central Computer Development Program (SZKFP) - was to implement the computer science specialist program in schools: in the course of this, computers were installed in every secondary school, and teachers also received the necessary methodological training. Meanwhile, in 1981, UNESCO invited him to the International Teaching Aids Committee, of which he was a member and leader. Later, he also worked at the Mathematics Teaching and Methodology Center of the Faculty of Science of Eötvös Loránd University.

He was interested in the use of pocket calculators as teaching aids in secondary schools (he also published a book with co-authors on the use of the PTK 1072-1 programmable calculator in 1981); later, the general use of computers in mathematics classes. Between 1980 and 1990, he published 6 books on computer science education, including computer science example libraries for teachers in the field of teacher training. He published for primary school teachers and teachers (in public education, pedagogical magazines; daily newspapers; methodological publications); and on educational and economic topics. He popularized computers in programs on Hungarian Television ("Me and the Computer").

During the change of regime (1989/90s), he left teaching for business; he became one of the star entrepreneurs of the era (he traded in the Russian market, started railway construction in Upper Volta, ran a cartoon studio; his group of companies had about a hundred members).
He later returned to teaching and taught mathematics throughout (including at the Gourmand Hospitality, Tourism, and Trade Vocational School, Technical School, and High School) - for free.

He founded and supported educational and youth-supporting foundations: e.g. Varga Tamás Foundation Methodological Center; and was co-chair of the board of trustees of the Foundation for the Pupils of the Fót Children's Center. In October 2007, he founded the Varga Tamás Memorial Award, which is awarded annually - within the framework of the Varga Tamás Methodological Days - to excellent mathematics teachers and tutors for their outstanding work as mathematics educators and for preserving the intellectual legacy of Tamás Varga. As the Chairman and CEO of the A. Holding Group, in 2015 he established excellence awards for outstanding teachers and students of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the Szent István (formerly Gödöllő University of Agricultural Sciences) University.

He has received several awards during his work (Ministerial Commendation; Excellent Teacher Award; Merit Medal for Children; Golden Chair Award). The NJSZT (János Neumann Computer Science Society) awarded him the Kalmár Award in 1984.