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Hungary s Orban extends dominance through university reform
Story by Reuters
Updated 12:03 PM ET, Tue April 27, 2021
Students at Hungary s University of Theatre and Film Arts blockaded their school last October in a fight over the imposition of a government-appointed board that protesters said undermined the school s autonomy.
Budapest, HungaryHungary s parliament passed legislation on Tuesday setting up foundations to take over the running of universities and cultural institutions in a move critics say extends the ideological imprint of the ruling right-wing government.
Currently, most Hungarian universities are owned by the state but have a large amount of academic autonomy.
The bill, drafted by Prime Minister Viktor Orban s deputy, says the universities need to be reorganized and run by foundations because modern conditions require a re-thinking of the role of the state and the foundations will manage institutions more efficiently.
By Syndicated Content
By Marton Dunai and Anita Komuves
BUDAPEST (Reuters) – Hungary is set to pass legislation on Tuesday setting up foundations to take over the running of universities and cultural institutions in a move critics say extends the ideological imprint of the ruling right-wing government.
Currently, most Hungarian universities are owned by the state but have a large amount of academic autonomy.
The bill, drafted by Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s deputy, says they need to be privatised because modern conditions require a “re-thinking of the role of the state” and the foundations will manage institutions more efficiently.
Orban’s government will appoint boards of trustees to run the foundations, which will control substantial real estate assets and benefit from billions of euros worth of EU funds, while also having considerable influence over universities’ everyday life.
Currently, most Hungarian universities are owned by the state but have a large amount of academic autonomy.
The Bill, drafted by Prime Minister Viktor Orban s deputy, says they need to be privatised because modern conditions require a re-thinking of the role of the state and the foundations will manage institutions more efficiently.
Orban s government will appoint boards of trustees to run the foundations, which will control substantial real estate assets and benefit from billions of euros worth of EU funds, while also having considerable influence over universities everyday life.
The government will endow several of the foundations using its stakes in blue chip companies MOL and drug maker Richter. It will also allocate over 1 trillion forints (S$4.4 billion) worth of EU recovery funds for the revamp of universities.