George Soros, a billionaire, philanthropist, and founder of the Central European University (CEU), has made a groundbreaking decision to donate one billion dollars to the newly emerging Open Society University Network. In addition to this generous contribution, he has also pledged an additional 750 million dollars to support the CEU, which was forced to relocate to Vienna after facing disagreements with the Hungarian government.
Soros, originally from Hungary, established the CEU after the fall of communist regimes in Central and Eastern Europe. The university’s mission is to promote and develop democracy in the region. At this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Soros announced his donation to the Open Society University Network, which aims to prepare students for future global challenges and promote democratic values. The network will bring together excellent institutions and academics from around the world who are facing political pressure in their home countries.
The initial institutions joining the CEU in the new network include Arizona State University, the American University of Central Asia in Kyrgyzstan, and BRAC University in Bangladesh. Leon Bolstein, the current chairman of the CEU’s board of trustees and president of Bard College in the United States, is expected to lead this network. Soros has called on other global philanthropists to contribute to the university network as well.
In addition to his donation to the network, Soros has pledged 750 million dollars directly to the CEU. The university was compelled to move to Vienna after prolonged conflicts with the Hungarian government. In 2016, the Orbán government passed a controversial law that prohibited foreign universities from operating in Hungary if they did not have a campus in their home country. CEU representatives have long argued that the law was aimed at them because Prime Minister Orbán has been vocal in his opposition to George Soros. Despite extensive negotiations, CEU had to leave Budapest and relocate to Vienna.
The three-quarters of a billion dollars will cover the costs of the move to the Austrian capital. According to CEU officials, it is essential for the salaries of researchers, academics, and other staff to be in line with Vienna’s standards to ensure the university remains competitive internationally. This also applies to doctoral students and other scholars who receive scholarships from the university. CEU has received a warm welcome in Vienna, and for good reason. The university currently hosts the largest number of ERC grants from Central and Eastern European countries.
In conclusion, George Soros’s significant contributions to the Open Society University Network and the CEU demonstrate his unwavering commitment to promoting democracy and education in the face of political challenges. His generosity will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the future of higher education and academic freedom worldwide.