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PM Orbán holds talks with university foundation heads

PM Orbán said Hungary expects excellence, rather than mediocrity, from its universities.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has held talks with the heads of the supervisory boards of the foundations running Hungary’s universities that have recently adopted new operational models.

According to MTI, the mission of the universities that have shifted from state-run to being operated by foundations is for them to be Hungary’s engines of growth and to help boost the country’s competitiveness. PM Orbán said the foundation model is not just a new system for managing the institutions, but a whole new Hungarian university system.

The prime minister said the supervisory boards will be the real caretakers of the universities, which will no longer be operated by the state. Rather than being overseen by a single minister or state secretary, these institutions will now be managed by the heads and members of the supervisory boards of the foundations running them in the interest of improving the quality of their programs and research activities.

PM Orbán added that Hungary expects excellence, rather than mediocrity, from its universities, adding that the state was prepared to provide the funding the institutions needed to carry out their development plans. The meeting was also attended by László Palkovics, the minister for innovation and technology.