President and Rector

In 1991 CEU was founded with a mission. That mission—educating free minds for a free society—is more urgent than ever. Today more than 15,000 alumni carry the values we teach—respect for knowledge and critical inquiry—into responsible positions in government, business, civil society, academic life and politics around the world.

CEU formally began its new Academic Year today, welcoming students, faculty, staff and distinguished guests with an Opening Ceremony held in the spirit of free inquiry, diversity, and open society that are the hallmarks of CEU.

CEU leadership welcomed close to 700 new students from more than 80 countries to the community, which now includes 1,700 students and hundreds of staff and faculty, as well as 16,000 alumni worldwide.

Budapest, April 12, 2018 – Central European University (CEU) strongly condemns the listing of academics, employees of non-governmental organizations and journalists in Figyelo magazine. Any academic associated with CEU is a distinguished scholar who has earned an appointment at the university through peer-reviewed publications and a strong teaching reputation.

We cannot understand inequality without thinking about recognition, according to Michele Lamont, Professor of Sociology and of African and African American Studies and the Robert I. Goldman Professor of European Studies at Harvard University. In Western societies, worthiness is defined by socio-economic success, creating a recognition gap between social strata, said Lamont, who spoke as part of the Rethinking Open Society series at CEU on December 4.