Liszt Academy Consistory members appointed

On 10 February, state secretary for education Zoltán Palkovics formally presented the members of the consistories of approximately 29 institutions of higher education with their credentials. In a speech at the ceremony he emphasized: an important element of the higher education strategy is strengthening representation of the interests of the maintainer, one part of which is the introduction of the post of chancellor and the creation of the office of consistory is also designed to further this objective. As regards the operation of the consistories, he said that the prior agreement of the recently established bodies would be required for the approval of the development plans of the institution, the annual budget and report, and the assets management plan. In certain issues the final decision still rests with the senate, but a topic can be submitted to it when this has been discussed.

The president/rector and the chancellor are members of the consistory, three members are delegated by the minister responsible for education at the recommendation of the financial-social environment of the institution, the institution and the student union. Professionals conducting outstanding work in their own area and considering the university important can be delegated to the bodies. Mrs. Dr. Béres József Károly, member of the board of directors of Béres Gyógyszertár Zrt., Márton Devich, editor in chief of Duna Médiaszolgáltató Nonprofit Zrt., and trombonist László Gőz, founder of the Budapest Music Center, were appointed to the consistory board of the Liszt Academy.

Members are appointed for a term lasting five years, they can be re-elected and they conduct their activities as social work, said László Palkovics, who believes that the activities of the consistories can well bring a quality change in higher education. József Bódis, president of the Hungarian Rectors’ Conference (MRK), said: the delegated state management of universities looks forward to the operation of the consistories with great expectations. He added that it was his belief that their activities could promote the educational and research function of universities and an increase in the openness of these institutions to social and business life.