More than 30 CEU alumni and friends – graduates of classes 1992 to 2017 - met for the first time with President and Rector Michael Ignatieff at Warsaw’s Batory Foundation on Thursday, Oct. 5. See photos.
Batory Foundation board member Prof. Mikołaj Cześnik, welcomed alumni and expressed the Foundation’s support of CEU. The Rector then shared updates regarding LexCEU, and aspects of his strategic vision relevant to alumni. He also reconfirmed CEU’s determination to stay in Budapest as world-class university supporting free thought throughout the region.
Afterwards, alumni engaged in a lively debate regarding CEU’s present and future. Citing rapid erosion of democracy in Central and Eastern Europe, several alumni emphasized CEU’s role as a beacon of free thought and open society values is more critical than ever. Alumni also shared concrete ideas on how they can better support the university, especially with recruitment and local chapter volunteering.
The Rector concluded the official program by thanking alumni for their support so far and highlighting the importance of alumni fundraising in securing CEU’s financial sustainability. The evening continued with a reception, with alumni catching up with old friends and meeting new ones.
A big THANK YOU to our fellow alumni and friends who traveled from different corners of the country to join us. Thanks also to those from Warsaw who came despite the bad weather, other commitments - and an important football match- and made this a fantastic event. Special thanks to the Batory Foundation for hosting us.