The President of the British Sociological Association has written to the Hungarian Government over the future of the Budapest-based Central European University.

Professor Lynn Jamieson wrote to Mr Zoltán Balog, Minister of Human Capacities, to express the BSA's concern that the university's capacity as an international centre of excellence could be radically reduced.

"As President of the British Sociological Association, I am aware of the Central European University as a centre that offers excellent postgraduate training," Professor Jamieson said. 

"I am concerned that the proposed legislation downgrades CEU's status and will radically reduce its capacity to be an international centre of excellence. It may also endanger the academic freedom that enables universities to pursue scholarship without fear and which underpins the possibility of academics playing a constructive role in public debate. I respectfully urge the government to withdraw the proposed legislation and enter consultation with CEU."

She was particularly concerned about the future of the Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology, which "makes an important contribution to training future scholars in my discipline". 

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Link to petition opposing the proposals.