Student protests succesfully oust “remodelled” university’s rector

The Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design, one of the subjects of the Hungarian government’s education privatization reform has faced difficulties in its remodelling due to teachers’ and students’ resistence. Although the university’s leadership insists that they consulted everyone, a large portion of the student body was demanding the rector’s resignation. The institution has opened the doors to further negotiations, but the students were univocal and unmoved in their demands. The senate finally forced the rector to resign.

The Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design (MOME) is one of the many higher education institutions in Hungary to be “remodelled”. Starting in 2020, the Hungarian government initiated a massive wave of semi-privatization, where formerly nationally owned universities and colleges were given over to so-called public interest foundations. These foundations operate with little oversight from the state – and are often controlled by politicians and business leaders close to the ruling party.

In 2022, the foundation running MOME launched an institutional and curriculum development program, inviting the university to participate. This initiative, called The University of the Future, aims to make the institution one of Europe’s leading art and design universities by 2030 while it also plans to attract new international students.

According to the university, the transformation is set to meet the university’s needs and to better support the development of both students and faculty.

“You, the students, will receive a modern and up-to-date education that prepares you for the current and future challenges of the world,” the project promised. “This will enable you to contribute to solving the social and ecological problems ahead of us through the tools of art, design, and innovation.”

As of January 2025, existing institutes have been dissolved and replaced by individual “schools”.

The three major schools include:

• Classic School (School of Classical Studies), which will encompass undergraduate programs.
• Future School (School of Future Studies), which will include master’s programs, research groups, and the Doctoral School.
• Professional School (School of New Knowledge), which will oversee all future specialized training programs, paid courses, and short- and long-term workshops.

This foundation has significant control over the university’s affairs. The first affected cohort will be those who enrolled in 2025.

Students protest

The university will also establish seven knowledge centres, for which the leadership opened applications last year. Rector Pál Koós did not appoint any of the individuals approved by the university community, leading to student protests.

Initially, students placed flyers and stickers around university restrooms that mocked the leadership. The protest escalated when, during the Senate meeting on February 3, students interrupted the rector with applause, preventing him from speaking. They distributed flyers demanding the resignation of the rector and his deputies, the restoration of the Senate’s autonomy, and a reduction of the foundation’s authority.

The student-led MOME FRONT movement published its demands on its website:

“The current rector and his cabinet have repeatedly ignored the academic community’s needs and interests without real justification, creating uncertainty and distrust among students and faculty (…). Böszörményi-Nagy Gergely disregarded the outcome of the 1.5-year democratic rector selection process. The rector he appointed, Pál Koós, has lost our trust within a few months.”

Students are demanding to have a rector chosen by the academic community. They also insist that the Senate not only provide opinions on decisions but also shape them and that the rector should govern rather than rule.

The university offers negotiations, but students refuse

On February 4, the university announced on its website that the rector had initiated negotiations with students to restore the peace and find mutually acceptable solutions. As mediators, two university lecturers—philosopher Eszter Babarczy and sculptor András Mohácsi—were also involved.

On the same day, Rector Pál Koós gave an interview on Klubrádió, expressing confusion over why the structural transformation was being challenged after the university had held numerous forums on the topic. He stated that in the past year, over 100 university colleagues had been involved in the discussions, and several Senate decisions had been made. While acknowledging differing opinions, he maintained that the restructuring plan had taken criticisms into account and described the process as an ongoing dialogue.

Asked whether he believed he would still be rector in two weeks, he replied that he was “curious to see.”

Meanwhile, MOME FRONT reaffirmed its refusal to negotiate with the rector, whom they consider illegitimate, in a statement:

“As of now, more than 50% of active MOME students have signed the four-point demand submitted at Monday’s Senate meeting, with the first proclamation stating that we do not recognize Pál Koós as rector. Respecting the majority student position, MOME FRONT will not engage in negotiations with the illegitimate rector or his appointed representatives. We envision a dialogue about the university’s future with the university’s community itself. Therefore, as a first step, we will initiate an open meeting with students on Thursday. Should the university’s actual decision-making leadership begin implementing our demands—starting with the resignation of Pál Koós and his cabinet, who were arbitrarily appointed by Böszörményi-Nagy Gergely without community support—then discussions may be possible.”

Reports indicate that students have not sat down with university leadership or their appointed representatives. Instead, they held their own meeting on campus and remain committed to their original goals.

Senate powers strengthened

MOME issued a statement on its website reinforcing the Senate’s authority. According to the statement, changes to the university’s organizational structure can only be made with consensus between the university’s maintaining foundation and the Senate. In the future, the Senate will have sole authority over employment and student regulations, and if the foundation rejects the Senate’s nominated candidate for rector, a new application process will be mandatory.

We reached out to the rector to ask for his opinion on students’ refusal to negotiate with him or his representatives and how he plans to resolve the situation without negotiations. We also contacted the appointed mediators for their perspective on the student protests and expectations for the discussions. Eszter Babarczy declined to comment, stating that doing so could hinder the negotiations, while András Mohácsi did not respond. The MOME Student Government also did not reply to our inquiries.

On thr February 11, the Senate voted in closed session on the person of the Rector. Students queued outside the university building to await the result. The Senate finally forced the Rector to resign with 27 votes in favour.