"George Soros Visiting Chair and George Soros Visiting Practitioner Chair"

The Department of Public Policy (DPP) at Central European University (CEU) is seeking applications for its George Soros Visiting Chair and George Soros Visiting Practitioner Chair for the Academic Year 2026-27. The deadline is March 15, 2026.

Successful candidates will be scholars and/or practitioners who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement or have a distinguished record of participation in the professional, journalistic, political, or civic world of public policy.

DPP welcomes applications from individuals who contribute to the diversity of the CEU community.

What we expect from the selected applicants:

• Join DPP for a 12-week academic term in the fall term (Sep 15 – Dec 15, 2026), or in the winter term (Jan 1 – March 31, 2027) or in the spring term (April 1 – June 30, 2027).
• Teach one 2-credit elective seminars (12 sessions, 100 minutes each) for Master’s students enrolled in the School’s programs.
• Be available to students for consultations related to the taught seminar and topics within the Chair’s research expertise, and/or provide advice to students pursuing the Policy Lab, internships, and other practice components of the Department’s Master’s programs.
• Give a public lecture open to the entire CEU community.
• Practitioner Chairs are expected to help mentoring Policy Lab Projects.

If interested,

• Lead a faculty research seminar on a current topic of research.
• Offer a 90-minute off-the-record student session about his/her career and lessons for young leaders

What we offer:

We offer a competitive remuneration, as well as a dynamic and international academic environment.

• Monthly salary matching the current salary and amounting from EUR 2,500 up to EUR 9,000 gross, monthly payment (subject to Austrian taxation rules).
• A roundtrip plane ticket for travel to and from Vienna.
• Health insurance and accommodation for the length of your stay in Austria.
• A travel budget related to the scope of tasks to be used during your stay at DPP.

How to apply:

To apply for either the George Soros Visiting Chair or the George Soros Visiting Practitioner Chair, please submit a:

• 500-word narrative statement describing your professional achievements, and why you think you would make an especially valuable contribution to the intellectual life of the Department of Public Policy.
• Your resume.
• Titles and descriptions of at least two courses that you could teach at DPP.
• Any additional documentation you think the Selection Committee should consider when making this prestigious appointment.
• Please also indicate when (winter or spring) you are interested in spending an academic term at DPP.

Please send questions and applications to georgesoroschair@ceu.edu.

About the Program:

The George Soros Visiting Chair program was established with generous contributions from admirers of CEU founder and honorary chairman, George Soros, to bring distinguished public policy scholars and practitioners together with CEU students from around the globe. Past George Soros Visiting Chairs include Ireland’s former deputy prime minister, Eamon Gilmore; renowned Indian activist Aruna Roy; eminent global development scholar Stephen Chan, OBE; environmental law professor Carmen Gonzalez; South African human rights lawyer and transitional justice expert Yasmin Sooka; economics professor and president of the Global Labor Organization Klaus F. Zimmermann, and former UN undersecretary general Karin Landgren.