Anna Gács: ‘Hungarians can’t expect the EU to intervene until there is some agreement about the minimum criteria of academic freedom’ – VoxEurop

Recently, the decision to transfer ownership of the state-run University for Theatre and Film Arts in Budapest to a private, Fidesz-allied foundation spurred loud protests. Are there strategies to defend the academic and educational system against such attacks?

Simultaneously, long-time trends undermining academic freedom continue to affect institutions not only in Hungary but across Europe: the primacy of “useable knowledge” over “critical thinking” or the decline of the humanities. What alliances can be formed – locally, nationally, internationally?

In the third talk of the Debates on Europe: Budapest & Beyond, Barbara Stollberg-Rilinger, rector of the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin and Anna Gács, from the Department of Sociology and Communication, BME University in Budapest, and member of the Hungarian Network of Academics, OHA, discuss on the role of research and education in liberal democracy.

? Check out the full programme of the event.

? Watch the opening talk, with Timothy Garton Ash.