12-04-2018, 06:19 AM
George Soros-Backed University Says It’s Been ‘Forced Out’ Of Hungary
By Marton Dunai
BUDAPEST (Reuters) - The Central European University, founded by George Soros, said on Monday it had been forced out of Hungary in “an arbitrary eviction” that violated academic freedom, and it confirmed plans to enroll new students in neighboring Austria next year.
CEU’s statement is the culmination of a years-long struggle between Hungarian-born but U.S.-based Soros, who promotes liberal causes through his charities, and the nationalist, anti-immigrant government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
“CEU has been forced out,” said CEU President and Rector Michael Ignatieff in a statement.
“This is unprecedented. A U.S. institution has been driven out of a country that is a NATO ally. A European institution has been ousted from a member state of the EU.”
“Arbitrary eviction of a reputable university is a flagrant violation of academic freedom. It is a dark day for Europe and a dark day for Hungary,” the statement added.
Michael Ignatieff, rector of the Central European University, attends a news conference in Budapest, Hungary, December 3, 201
BERNADETT SZABO / REUTERS
Michael Ignatieff, rector of the Central European University, attends a news conference in Budapest, Hungary, December 3, 2018. (REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo)
CEU’s legal status has been in limbo for more than a year since changes to a higher education law that meant a foreign-registered university could no longer operate in Hungary unless it also provided courses in its home country.
Orban’s critics say the changes deliberately target CEU, which is regularly ranked as the top university in Hungary and offers U.S. degrees. Orban accuses Soros of encouraging mass immigration into Europe, a charge the philanthropist denies.
Earlier this year, Open Society Foundations, Soros’ main funding network, was also forced to leave Hungary.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/geo...b2116a2a01
By Marton Dunai
BUDAPEST (Reuters) - The Central European University, founded by George Soros, said on Monday it had been forced out of Hungary in “an arbitrary eviction” that violated academic freedom, and it confirmed plans to enroll new students in neighboring Austria next year.
CEU’s statement is the culmination of a years-long struggle between Hungarian-born but U.S.-based Soros, who promotes liberal causes through his charities, and the nationalist, anti-immigrant government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
“CEU has been forced out,” said CEU President and Rector Michael Ignatieff in a statement.
“This is unprecedented. A U.S. institution has been driven out of a country that is a NATO ally. A European institution has been ousted from a member state of the EU.”
“Arbitrary eviction of a reputable university is a flagrant violation of academic freedom. It is a dark day for Europe and a dark day for Hungary,” the statement added.
Michael Ignatieff, rector of the Central European University, attends a news conference in Budapest, Hungary, December 3, 201
BERNADETT SZABO / REUTERS
Michael Ignatieff, rector of the Central European University, attends a news conference in Budapest, Hungary, December 3, 2018. (REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo)
CEU’s legal status has been in limbo for more than a year since changes to a higher education law that meant a foreign-registered university could no longer operate in Hungary unless it also provided courses in its home country.
Orban’s critics say the changes deliberately target CEU, which is regularly ranked as the top university in Hungary and offers U.S. degrees. Orban accuses Soros of encouraging mass immigration into Europe, a charge the philanthropist denies.
Earlier this year, Open Society Foundations, Soros’ main funding network, was also forced to leave Hungary.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/geo...b2116a2a01