A new chapter in the life of Corvinus

Under the direction of Anthony Radev, Corvinus, the first Hungarian model-changing university, launched its ambitious transformation programme in 2019. As a result of the five-year development cycle that has just ended, the university’s educational portfolio was fundamentally renewed, its research performance multiplied, the internationalisation of the university has reached a new level, the strategic corporate partnership programme has been launched, a comprehensive digitalisation programme was implemented and the new campus of the university was completed. With the successful implementation of the most significant reform in the history of the institution, the work of the past five years has laid the foundations on which Corvinus can build to become a competitive university at European level. 

In the coming period, Corvinus will continue on the path it has already embarked on, focusing on the internationalisation of its educational programmes and research excellence. In line with the ambitions of the new development cycle, the university’s governance system will also be transformed: the duties of the Rector, responsible for the academic division, and those of the President, responsible for the non-academic division, will in future be performed by the Rector alone. 

Zsolt Hernádi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Maecenas Universitatis Corvini Foundation, which maintains Corvinus University, emphasized in this context that Anthony Radev played a key role in the pioneering model change, and that Corvinus has now become a stable, innovative institution with a perspective and a reference point in Hungarian higher education. 

“Under Anthony Radev’s leadership, Corvinus has completed the massive work of fundamentally restructuring a leading university to embrace an outward-looking, innovation-leading, internationalising organisational culture and results-oriented way of working. He has laid the foundations for Corvinus to become a stable, leading university in its field in Central Europe, making Corvinus a reference point for higher education in Hungary as a whole. We thank him for his expertise, his dedication and all that he has done for Corvinus in recent years. He has played a lion’s share in making the idea of model change a viable reality with a perspective”

– said Zsolt Hernádi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Maecenas Universitatis Corvini Foundation, which maintains the university. 

Anthony Radev has made an immeasurable contribution to shaping Corvinus into a modern, trend-setting university of economic and social sciences in Hungary, and an indispensable educational centre for future decision-makers. He will not be leaving Corvinus altogether, and will continue to serve as a strategic advisor to the Maecenas Universitatis Corvini Foundation, the Maintainer of the university.

“In 2019, we embarked on a joint venture spanning several decades. Our goal was to build on the strengths of Corvinus, yet fundamentally renew and take the University to a different level. In keeping with our best traditions, the changes have been surrounded by many constructive discussions, which have greatly contributed to the achievement of our objectives. We have created the conditions to ensure that Corvinus will continue to enjoy a stable position among internationally recognised universities in the long term. In all cases, we have focused on the potential of our students, placed performance and its appropriate recognition in the centre. The next few years will be about building on the foundations we have laid together to enable the University to develop on a truly international scale. Based on the career path and vision of our future Rector, we can be confident that the coming years will be successful”

– said Anthony Radev, outgoing President of the Corvinus University of Budapest.

At its meeting of 22 May 2024, the Senate of Corvinus proposed the appointment as rector of Bruno van Pottelsberghe, Professor at the Université Libre de Bruxelles in Brussels, which was unanimously supported by the Maecenas Universitatis Corvini Foundation, which in turn initiated the appointment of the Rector with the President of the Republic through the Ministry of Culture and Innovation. Following this appointment, Bruno van Pottelsberghe is expected to assume the duties of Rector and President, from 1 August 2024.

Regarding the Rector’s programme for the new strategic cycle, Pottelsberghe said:

“I want to focus on three priorities: internationalisation, research orientation and branding. My aim is to continue on the path already begun and to work towards making Corvinus not only visible but also a leading international player, with even higher performance. It is necessary to further strengthen our interdisciplinary relations in cooperation with the university community and to increase the number of international faculty and students, thus strengthening the global reputation of the university. I believe it is important to promote ambitious research programmes and to strengthen opportunities for cooperation with the business community. I am also committed to ensuring that the big issues of our time, such as sustainability and artificial intelligence, become issues for the whole university community.”