At home: the government withdraws hundreds of millions of forints from universities due to the epidemic situation

“After the COVID-19 pandemic, University administration opportunities, student applications, and operating conditions will fundamentally change, and we must be prepared for the fact that the amount and timing of state budget support they will differ from what was previously planned, “says Gyula Scheuer, in the instruction issued by Eötvös Loránd University Chancellor on April 20, published by Magyar Narancs.

The document establishes that according to the instructions of the chancellor, a new public official relationship cannot be established in ELTE, and a fixed term public official relationship can be extended for a maximum period of two months in the absence of internal remedies. Also, a fixed-term legal relationship cannot be transformed into an indefinite-term legal relationship, and an assignment contract, student employment contract, school cooperative, or retired cooperative business contract cannot be concluded.

According to the instructions, the Chancellor also stipulated that when national bidding funds are used, “special attention and attention will be paid to the fact that the infrastructure, human resources, materials and general costs used in the bidding may be included in the amount of the tender grant along with the costs of taxes and contributions. ” Deans will have the power to approve the professional needs of supervisors, and there will be no restrictions on the use of EU grants, and in particular, where appropriate, individual charterers may be exempt.

According to the Hungarian Orange, two university sources informed him that it was a cut of HUF 860 million. A few days ago, Szabad Pécs wrote that ITM was withdrawing 3.6 billion HUF from the University of Pécs due to the epidemic situation. According to Magyar Narancs, several other state universities have received letters with similar content.

The document asked ITM how much university support had been reduced in total and broken down by individual institution, and where this money would be reallocated, but did not provide a specific answer to any of the questions. The following brief information was sent:

“Due to the emergency caused by the coronavirus epidemic and its economic impact, the 2020 budget can be implemented in response to changing circumstances. Effective advocacy is the most important goal, which also requires state actors and budget agencies to participate in joint burden sharing. Higher education institutions are independent budget agencies, so they can decide on the management of their modified credits. “