Central European University

Hungarian and Polish academics raise concerns over academic freedom, as governments further tighten controls over universities and research institutes

With the EU preparing stricter rules on research collaborations with China, Hungarians are protesting against the €1.5B campus Fudan University wants to build in Budapest. But for some, putting limits on cooperation will undermine democratic values

The Bonn Declaration on Freedom of Scientific Research commits governments to an EU system for monitoring academic freedom. Along with safeguarding research from political intervention, the move aims to increase public trust in science

The relocation to Vienna won’t be reversed, but following the ruling CEU plans to reinforce its remaining foothold in Budapest

The donation, to fund a new global network of universities, is in addition to $750M Soros announced in November to assist Budapest-based Central European University in its enforced move to Vienna

CEU hopes Germany’s political and economic power will convince Hungarian prime minister to allow the university to continue offering US accredited degrees in Budapest

Weber applies Bavarian political and financial power in bid to help anchor the university in Europe and safeguard it against political interference in the future

Research and education commissioners say they wish Central European University could stay in Budapest, while academics hit out at limp response from Brussels

Rector Michael Ignatieff says the decision is ‘a dark day for academic freedom’ in Hungary and decries the lack of tougher response from Brussels and EU capitals