CEU to stay in Budapest

Central European University (CEU) President Michael Ignatieff has announced that the university will carry out all its activities in Budapest in the 2017-2018 academic year. The announcement comes while the future of CEU is uncertain due to legislation put through parliament by the Hungarian government.

He told the press that the CEU welcomes the start of talks between Hungary’s government and New York State.

“We will not close. Budapest is our home,” he said. He expressed hope that a long-term agreement would be signed as soon as possible, enabling the CEU to stay in Budapest. “The ball is in the government’s court,” he said, adding that the university was waiting for the government to begin “constructive talks” with New York. Ignatieff also said the university had not experienced a drop in applications for the next academic year.