The Hungarian government continues to expand its influence on universities and cultural institutions in the country. A reform is planned to transform the Theater and Film University in Budapest (SZFE) into a foundation close to the right-wing national government of Victor Orbán and to better adapt the challenges of the market for the whole educational sector. An adjustment process originally planned for six months was shortened to three months and the university senate was excluded from all structural discussions by the supervisory board of the future foundation appointed by the responsible Ministry of Innovation and Technology, writes Anna Lakos, the long-standing Hungarian ITI director. The supervisory board is headed by the director of the Hungarian National Theatre Attila Vidnyánszky, an actor of the National Theatre, a film producer and the directors of two oil companies.
The occupation of the university by its students to protest against the complete loss of independence, experienced solidarity from theatrical artists from all over the world (#FreeSZFE). Here is the text of the SZFE “Magna Charta Universitatum”. The “Call for Academic Freedom in Hungary”  has been signed by more than 100 playwrights. 

Public sources: New York Times online, Nachtkritik.de