Considering the fast-changing times and mounting challenges, higher education institutions (HEIs) became recognized as important change agents in the society but at the same time became more threatened. To that end, recently Magna Charta Universitatum, a declaration stating that intellectual and moral autonomy is the hallmark of any university and…

As scholars we navigate in the fast changing and demanding research environment. The pressure to produce tangible outputs, secure funding, and undertake international collaborations has high implications on individual researchers' work and well-being. The issues brought forefront in scholarly literature showcase the impact of research pressures on…

Having reviewed several pieces of strategy documents, policy papers, and literature, we concluded that there is no uniform definition of either institutional autonomy or academic freedom (AF). Many different points of view determine the interpretation of these terms. Furthermore, the policymakers (e.g., governments, legislators) can ignore the…

Although efforts were made to establish several higher education institutes in the Medieval era, Hungarian higher education began in 1635 when the first university, which is still in operation today, was founded. For the first one hundred and fifty years the university was under the influence of the church, then under Absolutism, it came under the…

Hungary is on the road towards an illiberal state. On this journey, the Hungarian government, with the Parliament at its service, is reinterpreting the concept of fundamental rights. Under the slogan of effectiveness, new regulations are being adopted which secure more power, influence, rights, and tools for the state. This paper aims to present…

In the latest BCES Conference Book ("Education in Modern Society," BCES Conference Books, 2018) a study was published which presented Hungarian legislation on the field of education. It is clear that the legal framework serves the interests of the government. The Fundamental Law of Hungary does not guarantee the fundamental right to…