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• Key University in Budapest Faces Funding Crisis, Basic Operations Under Threat

Key University in Budapest Faces Funding Crisis, Basic Operations Under Threat

• 7 May 2024 11:08 AM
• Hungary Around the Clock

A funding crisis at the Budapest University of Technology (BME) has prompted the rector and eight faculty deans to request a one-time grant from the Ministry of Culture and Innovation to sustain basic operations, 444 reports.

During the BME senate meeting on April 29, Rector Tibor Czigány disclosed that he will not seek re-election, as heard in an audio clip obtained by the Qubit website.

Czigány also expressed hope for future financial stability, emphasising the need for increased funding while maintaining autonomy and European values.

In a letter to the ministry, the university leaders said "the real value of the funds available to operate the university has continuously decreased in recent years, and in the high inflation environment, they do not even cover the most necessary expenses, which has led to an unsustainable situation."

They highlighted that the funds allocated for 2024 equate to only 40% of the real value provided by the state budget two decades ago.

Despite this plea, no response has been received from the government, as state secretary Balázs Hankó concentrated discussions solely on salary matters during a meeting with university rectors on April 17.

Employees of ELTE, BME, the Academy of Music, and the University of Fine Arts reportedly met with Hankó three times to discuss salaries, but only at the third session did they manage to bring their positions closer, 444 reports.

MTI Photo

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