Vidnyánszky unilaterally rewrote the regulation, the SZFE goes to court

Maintainer switches to manual control, SZFE starts procedures

– this is how the Acting Arts page begins its Facebook post on Sunday afternoon.

This is due to the fact that the University of Theater and Film Arts maintains, Attila Vidnyánszky Led by the Board of Trustees, the Board of Trustees has recently unilaterally rewritten the University Organizational and Operating Rules (SZMR) unilaterally, this time demonstrably in violation of the law. With the amendment, the board created the possibility to intervene directly in academic work without checks and balances. “

As a reminder, the wave of protests around the SZFE began after August 31. László Upor, the deputy rector in exercise of the functions of rector announced his resignation. The decision was based on the fact that the new memorandum of association deprived the university leadership and the senate of all powers. Following the resignation of the Senate, the university students occupied his university. They demand that the autonomy of the university be restored, that is, that the board of trustees headed by Attila Vidnyánszky should not decide on all the important issues of the reorganized university in a founding structure. In September, there were several demonstrations for the autonomy of SZFE, and many national and foreign actors and directors supported the university against the transformation led by Attila Vidnyánszky.

Now the specific amendment is written on the SZFE Facebook page: with the latest retroactive amendments from the SZMR dated 09/15/2020, the Board of Trustees has been authorized to appoint the Vice Chancellors as employers without a request, and these Vice Chancellors – the Senate without the consent and request of the institution, for a maximum period of one year. Based on the modification, the vice-rectors may be appointed by the maintainer without knowledge of the professional work of the university, previous employment and experience as head of department.

This regulation is another serious interference in the autonomy of the university enshrined in the Basic Law and is in conflict with the National Law of Higher Education, which clearly regulates the employment rules of non-state higher education institutions. According to this, the maintainer cannot intervene directly in the scientific, educational and artistic activities of the institution; This axiom must be constantly challenged by all the measures taken thus far by the administrator.

Since this step – the communication continues “is demonstrably illegal and therefore not capable of producing legal effects, the management crisis caused by the maintainer at the university may be aggravated as a result.” To resolve this, the leadership and citizenship of the University of Theatrical and Cinematographic Arts on September 18, 2020:

1. appealed to the Supervisory Council of the Foundation for Theater and Film Arts to examine the legitimate operation of the Board on the basis of the above aspects, to warn of the limitations of its mandate and the performance of its real functions;
2. reported on recent events to the Presidencies of the Hungarian Conference of Rectors and HÖOK, inviting them to represent sectoral interests;
3. has filed four lawsuits in court to restore autonomy and legal functioning of the University.

Featured Image: Vörös Szilárd /24.hu