Government: Rules apply to all universities in Hungary

Budapest (MTI) – Just as foreign universities should not cheat their students or abuse their position, they must comply with Hungarian laws, the government office chief said on Thursday.

Central European University (CEU) president Michael Ignatieff has said the higher education bill seeking to clarify and tighten rules governing foreign higher education institutions operating in Hungary is discriminative and specifically an attack against the CEU. State secretary for education László Palkovics said today the criteria set out in the bill are easily complied with.

A recent review by the Education Office which has revealed problems in 27 of the 28 foreign universities operating in Hungary was lawful and thorough, Lazar told a weekly press briefing. The review uncovered many problems with operational licences and course accreditations as well as with their cooperation with the state, he said, adding this was “pitiful”.

Based on the review’s findings, the human resources ministry decided to submit an amendment to the higher education law with the aim of increasing transparency, Lazar said. Accordingly, foreign universities in Hungary would operate under an international agreement concluded between the university’s home country and the Hungarian state, he added.

“I don’t see which of these requirements can be regarded as being politically sensitive or as compromising anybody’s interests,” he said.