HUHungary's education ministry has announced an open application process for selecting new members of the supervisory boards of universities funded by foundations. This marks a shift from the previous system where the government directly appointed these individuals, often including active or former Fidesz politicians. The change aims to increase professional competence, transparency, and institutional community input in university governance. The transition period will last one year to ensure stable operations while discussions continue with university leaders, student organizations, trade unions, and other stakeholders. The foundation-funded model was introduced by the Fidesz government in 2021, transferring several state-owned universities into foundation management. These foundations received significant state assets, such as shares and properties. However, this structure faced criticism due to potential political influence and lack of transparency, leading the European Commission to suspend Hungary's participation in programs like Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe in late 2022.
Bias read (Right): The article frames the reform as a positive step toward greater transparency and professional governance, emphasizing the government's initiative to replace politically influenced appointments with merit-based selection. It highlights criticisms of the prior system but presents the current changes—f
