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| - The leadership of a top Hungarian arts university in Budapest quit Monday over fears a government reform would undermine its academic autonomy. Rectors and department heads at the 155-year-old state-run University of Theatre and Film Arts (SZFE) resigned over recent management changes brought in by the government. A law passed earlier this year switched SZFE's ownership to a private foundation run by a board headed by a conservative theatre director seen as close to Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Orban's critics say the reform is another muscular removal of power from institutions regarded by the nationalist premier as liberal. Since coming to power a decade ago, Orban has wrested control of most key institutions in Hungary, including media, the judiciary, as well as the education and culture sectors. The government has argued that the changes at SZFE will improve its infrastructure and educational standards, while a new supervisory board of trustees would ensure its independence. But SZFE's leadership, including student leaders, have protested that the reform fundamentally infringes on the university's autonomy and said they would file a complaint to the Hungarian constitutional court. Several hundred people, including students, film and theatre directors, later held a solidarity demonstration outside the university. Last year, the Budapest-based Central European University (CEU) founded by liberal US billionaire George Soros decided to move most of its operations to Vienna, also over fears for academic freedom. Staff at Hungary's top independent news website Index.hu also walked out en masse last month citing external pressure and meddling by pro-government figures. pmu/spm
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