“The proposed amendment to the Act on Higher Education does not make it impossible for institutions to operate in Hungary, is not discriminative and is not aimed against the Central European University (CEU), which operates in Budapest”, Minister of State for Education László Palkovics declared on ATV television’s Thursday morning current affairs program, adding that there is very little chance of the institution leaving Hungary and no reason for it to do so.

Among the reasons for the proposed amendment, he said that the Government would like to avoid the appearance of “scam universities” in Hungary, stressing that the CEU is certainly not such an institution, and stating with relation to reactions from public figures and the media that the institution’s representational capabilities are “perhaps stronger” than those of its rivals.

Mr. Palkovics noted that the Government would explain to its Ambassadors who will be taking action with relation to the move that the goal is for “real universities” to operate in Hungary, stressing the standpoint that what makes a university a university is that it also offers courses in the country in which it issues diplomas.

In reply to a question, the Minister of State indicated that he had not held preliminary talks with the CEU on the Bill because of a lack of time.

(MTI)