Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, Vol. 11, No. 2, 2000 Research Note The Future of Third-Sector Teaching and Research in Central and Eastern Europe Tzvetan Davidkov, 1 Gabor Hegyesie, 2 Jasminka Ledic, 3 Tiina Randma, 4 Gregg Behr, 5 Daniel Kessler, 5 Marty Sulek, 5 and Robert Payton 5,6 This research note addresses issues, concerns, and opportunities for teachers and researchers of the third sector in Central and Eastern Europe, drawing on experi- ences in Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, and Hungary. The paper briefly outlines the development of the third sector in the aforementioned countries, and describes the current state of third sector teaching and research there. It then frames the chal- lenges for the region’s teachers and researchers, and proposes an appropriate role for the West, commenting upon the West’s relevance within Central and Eastern Europe. KEY WORDS: Central and Eastern Europe; third-sector teaching and research; civil society; Bulgaria; Croatia; Hungary; Estonia. INTRODUCTION This research note draws upon four papers on nonprofit education presented at the Fifth Annual VOLUNTAS Symposium held in October 1999 in Prague, Czech Republic, as well as subsequent analysis and reflection. 7 The authors of the orig- inal papers sought to address issues, concerns, and opportunities for teachers and 1 Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Sofia University, Sofia, Bulgaria. 2 Department of Social Work, Barczi Gusztav College, Budapest, Hungary. 3 Faculty of Philosophy, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia. 4 University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia. 5 Center on Philanthropy, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana. 6 Correspondence should be directed to Robert Payton, Professor Emeritus of Philanthropic Studies, Center on Philanthropy, Indiana University, Cavanaugh Hall, 425 University Boulevard, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202; e-mail: RLPAYTON@IUPUI.EDU. 7 Four separate papers prepared for the symposium are heavily drawn upon in this research note: Davidkov (1999), Hegyesi (1999), Ledic (1999), and Randma (1999). Copies of these papers are available from the authors on request. 181 0957-8765/00/0600-0181$18.00/1 C  2000 International Society for Third-Sector Research and The Johns Hopkins University