You may have heard in the news that our friends and colleagues at Central European University in Hungary are facing a major challenge from the government of Hungary. On April 10, 2017, President of the Republic of Hungary Janos Ader signed law amendments to Hungary’s national higher education legislation which restrict academic freedom for CEU and other international universities operating in Hungary. These amendments would prevent CEU from offering accredited degrees, making it impossible for them to continue to operate as a higher education institution.
Despite massive protests in Hungary documented by former AUP colleague Dr. Michael Dorsch on his Facebook page, global mobilization by higher education leaders, international petitions, news and passionate opinion pieces in the New York Times, the Washington Post, and other distinguished news sources, the legislation that would bar CEU from exercising its functions as a university in Hungary was passed yesterday.
As President of the Association of American International Colleges and Universities, AUP President Celeste Schenck wrote a letter of concern to President Ignatieff of CEU. The University used her letter in its massive communications effort to forestall the legislation and build support to oppose it once it passed.
If you would like to stand in solidarity with CEU, you may sign a statement of solidarity on their website.
#IStandwithCEU
We at The American University of Paris all stand with CEU.