The Akadémiai Dolgozók Fóruma (Hungarian Academy Staff Forum – HASF) is a civil initiative launched by researchers of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) amidst heightened political tensions in 2019. The research network that previously employed around 5000 researchers and staff was reorganised despite MTA’s, its members’ and employees’ and international colleagues’ disapproval. The HASF aims to represent the collective interests of researchers, academics, and administrative staff on concerns over autonomy of science, status of employees, financial modalities and conditions of scientific research in Hungary. The HASF observes legal and informal processes that affect their members and the Hungarian research community, facilitates communication over concern on academic freedom and labour rights, and promotes the protection of the integrity and dignity of researchers in Hungary. It operates, together with the online portal Átlátszó, the digital anonymous whistleblowing platform called Tudoleaks. In spring 2022, HASF has collaborated in publishing a book, together with other NGOs, on culture, education, science and the media in Hungary since 2020 (click on link to download).
Mission statement and activity of the Hungarian Academy Staff Forum
In accord with the statutes of HASF, the members want to promote the freedom of science and education, guard over the autonomy of science in general and that of scientific institutions, and respect the freedom of scientific communication without any political bias. HASF intends to be an organization that preserves the integrity of scientific life in Hungary in line with the traditions of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. As a broader concept, HASF keeps an eye on actual issues of cultural politics and comments plans and decisions related to the freedom of culture, art, education and science.
As a part of this activity, HASF organized or took part at various events:
– Roundtable discussions on the regulation of various fields of art (theatres, collections of fine arts, literature and their budgetary support) and the similarity of their situation to that of scientific institutions (first anniversary event of HASF);
– Solidarity with the Hungarian Natural History Museum against the governmental initiative to move to the museum from Budapest to the countryside;
– Solidarity with the University of Theatre and Film Arts Budapest due to its highly unwanted reorganization initiated by the government, and with other actors of higher education, a sector that is being largely privatized in the last 1-2 years.
HASF organized various polls among the employees of the Hungarian academic sector in order to assess and communicate their opinion.
The Hungarian Academy Staff Forum would like to network with fellow organizations around the globe. Please contact us at akademiaidolgozokforuma@gmail.com
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Earlier posts Brief history of MTA Governmental interventions, 2018-2020 |
Akadémiai Dolgozók Fóruma 