• Home
• Channel: Current Affairs
• Theatre & Film Arts University Students Reject New Leadership's 'Ultimatum'

Theatre & Film Arts University Students Reject New Leadership's 'Ultimatum'

• 7 Oct 2020 11:31 AM
• Hungary Matters

The students of Budapest’s University of Theatre and Film Arts (SZFE) vowed to maintain their blockade of university premises, insisting the new leadership was “illegitimate” and its overtures were “an ultimatum” rather than conciliatory.

The students held a press conference in response to an open letter by university leaders promising full-time employees a wage hike in two stages, talks on the university’s planned developments as well as a promise not to punish the student organisers of the blockade.

The students said the country’s law on higher education set down the conditions regarding the autonomy of universities, and this was not up for discussion. They said they were prepared to discuss the university’s transformation in the presence of a guarantee of autonomy.

The students insisted that only a leadership “appointed lawfully” would have the authority to certify the validity of the school year. They said they would continue to exercise their democratic right to protest and maintain their blockade.

SZFE’s previous senate and leadership announced their resignation on Aug. 31, saying the foundation that took over the university on Sept. 1 under a government decree had deprived them of “all essential powers”. The students cordoned off the university’s main building and employees went on strike.


MTI Photo

• How does this content make you feel?
• I love it
• I like it
• I dislike it

• Theatre & Film Arts University Students

XpatLoop Media Partner

Hungary Matters

Launched in January 2014, this newsletter published on week days covers 'everything you need to know about what’s going on in Hungary and beyond', according to its publisher the state media agency MTI.

Explore More Reports

Hungary Vetoes EU Higher Education Strategy

• 28 Nov 2025 8:07 AM

Hungary has vetoed the European Union's four-year higher education strategy, Balazs Hanko, the minister of culture and innovation, said in Brussels on Thursday, adding that Hungary made clear that only once Hungarian students are restored their rightful access to the Erasmus programme will Hungary approve the higher education strategy.



Brussels Migration Policy 'Suicide', Says Hungarian FM

• 18 Nov 2025 6:46 AM

"Brussels' migration policy is suicide. Hungary's national government has put a stop to illegal migration and remains committed to doing so in the future," Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó said on Monday, adding that for that reason, Hungary was calling for immediate humanitarian aid to Sudan.



Back-to-School Costs Average HUF 50,000 – 75,000 in Hungary

• 13 Aug 2025 11:44 AM

Hungarian families can expect to spend between HUF 50,000-75,000 on average for back-to-school expenses this year, but the costs for 1st graders can often reach HUF 100,000 or more, a survey by Regio Játék shows.



Student Protests Successfully Oust “Remodelled” University’s Rector in Budapest

• 19 Feb 2025 7:07 AM

The Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design, one of the subjects of the Hungarian government’s education privatization reform has faced difficulties in its remodelling due to teachers’ and students’ resistance.