Page 6 - ELG1705 May Issue 447

NEWS

EUROPEAN PEOPLE’S PARTY

New law puts Soros-backed uni under threat

By: Claudia Civinini Hungary, and it does not have a campus in the CEU rector Michael Ignatieff said, ‘This
US. It will now need to comply with the new legislation has been rammed through parliament
An institution set up by business magnate and regulations or find itself unable to enrol new in a single week following a tide of defamatory
philanthropist George Soros appears to be the students – and face closure by 2021. attacks on the university and its degrees.’ The
target of the new laws imposing restrictions on Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban university said it was committed to fighting the
foreign universities operating in Hungary. (above) said that some foreign universities, new regulations and maintaining the integrity
Under the new regulations, foreign including CEU, have been operating illegally and continuity of its academic programs.
universities from outside the EU will need and ‘cheat’ in the way they award diplomas, Academics, Nobel laureates, universities and
accreditation and have a campus both in retaining an unfair advantage over other government representatives from all over the
their home countries and in Hungary. They institutions. However, Hungary’s education world have pledged their support for the CEU.
will also be barred from awarding Hungarian authority has confirmed that CEU’s The European University Association expressed
diplomas without a new agreement between operations are perfectly legal. As we went to ‘deep concern and shock’ at the move.
the governments of both countries. press, the EU said it was launching a legal action Tens of thousands of protesters marched
George Soros – an opponent of the current against Hungary over the issue. in Budapest in support of the university in
Hungarian government – founded the Central Observers believe Hungary’s right-wing ruling what has been described as one of the largest
European University (CEU) in Budapest in party Fidesz is targeting CEU, which some party demonstrations since Orban took power, while
1991. The institution now faces an immediate representatives reportedly refer to as ‘the Soros the CEU pledged to ‘immediately seek all
threat: it has been operating under an university’, in the context of a more general available legal remedies’ to the situation.
agreement between the governor of the State fight against liberalism. Many fear the new The university has repeatedly called on the
of New York and the then prime minister of regulations are an attack on academic freedom. goverment to begin negotiations.

newsinbrief

A NEW YORK THE AMERICAN THE TERRORIST THE AUSTRALIAN THE USE OF
teacher turned University of Afghanistan who killed five people higher education AFRIKAANS in South
restauranteur has set has reopened in Kabul during an attack on industry will strengthen African courts has
up an informal English seven months after a Westminster in London its presence in India, been abolished, and
language school for his terrorist attack there that taught at an English University World News English is now the
staff, the New York Post left 13 people dead. language school that was reports. only official language
reports. The institution has accredited by the British Indian officials have of the justice system.
Daniel Carabano, who increased its security Council, it has emerged. been told to help The move to ditch the
used to teach maths at measures by doubling Khalid Masood worked at Australian institutions Germanic tongue was
high school level but the height of its Elas UK in Luton between establish themselves in adopted last month.
now runs three eateries boundary walls and 2010 and summer 2012. the local market after The decision to stick
in New York, hit on employing a private The body put the school’s 130 delegates from to English-only could
the idea of teaching security firm, the accreditation under Australian universities be challenged by civil
his Spanish speaking University World News review in 2012 because of and training providers rights organisations,
cooks after he taught reports. Zubaida Akbar, concerns over its publicity paid a visit to Delhi. who say it contravenes
himself Spanish. the university’s director materials. Accreditation The Indian government the policy to recognise
The chef uses Netflix for communications, was withdrawn in 2015 as plans to train around 400 three official languages
programmes such as said that enrolments it had ‘closed or moved’ million citizens and offer in South Africa,
Iron Fist to inspire his were now increasing at without notifying officials, university education to at Buzzsouthafrica.com
employees to learn. the institution. the British Council said. least six million by 2020. reported.

6 May 2017

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