PRESS RELEASE
On April 10, 2017, President of the Republic of Hungary Janos Ader signed into law amendments to Hungary’s national higher education legislation which restrict academic freedom for CEU and other international universities operating in Hungary.
CEU strongly disagrees with this decision and, accordingly, continues to pursue all available legal remedies. Further, CEU calls on the Hungarian government to display the “mutual good will” called for by President Ader to find a solution to enable CEU to stay in Budapest.
On October 25, 2018 the Board of Trustees of CEU announced that incoming students for its U.S.-accredited masters and doctoral programs will study at a new campus in Vienna beginning in the academic year 2019-20. The Trustees authorized the move as of December 1, 2018.
We remain deeply grateful to the thousands of supporters whose vigorous defense of free inquiry, free exchange of knowledge, and free institutions of learning continues to encourage us. CEU will maintain the continuity of its teaching and research, its degree programs, and its service to the community, without interruption.
We will continue to keep you updated on future outreach and encourage you to:
- Add your name in solidarity and stay updated
- Share your solidarity on social media using #istandwithCEU
- Send suggestions or notifications of support to: Support_for_CEU@ceu.edu
Additionally, below are resources regarding the legislation and CEU's response:
- Frequently Asked Questions About CEU and the Legislation
- Timeline of events
- The Current Threat to CEU: A Brief Summary
- Summary of legal analysis
- Summary of legislative changes and their impact
- Prospective student Q & A
- Letter and Memo to President Ader
- Response to Ministerial Letter
- Press Releases
- Press Conferences and video messages
- CEU – A Hungarian Institution
A SAMPLING OF SUPPORT STATEMENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Hungary should reconsider recently adopted legislation which appears to be aimed at undermining CEU, UN Special Rapporteur on the freedom of opinion and expression David Kaye and colleagues said in a statement April 11.
The Rector of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México expressed his support for CEU in a recently published statement.
The University of Barcelona firmly believes that the university activity can only be active in a legal framework which respects the essential rights and freedom, among which are freedom of speech,
"L'Université libre de Bruxelles se déclare profondément préoccupée par les amendements à la loi nationale sur l'enseignement supérieur votée par le Parlement hongrois en avril"
We are writing to express our solidarity with Central European University and express our deep concern about proposed legislative changes to the status of Central European University (CEU) in Hunga
"I am writing on behalf of the University of Wisconsin–Madison to express concern about legislative changes that jeopardize the status of Central European University (CEU) in Hungary.
Virgin Group Founder Richard Branson expressed his support for CEU in a blog post on his website about CEU's founder, American-Hungarian philanthropist George Soros. About CEU, he said:
#IstandwithCEU News
August 10, 2018
June 14, 2018