The first round of changes to the Senate’s composition took place in the first quarter of 2026, following a review of the University of the Future model. In parallel with its organisational restructuring, MOME also adapted the Senate’s composition to reflect the university’s new operational structure. In several respects, this process preceded the subsequent legislative changes and reinforced the Senate’s role as a representative body of the university community, including through a significant increase in the proportion of student representatives at an earlier stage. 
 
In June 2026, Act XVIII of 2026, which establishes the conditions for access to European Union funding, came into force. The legislation introduced several amendments to the Act on Public Interest Asset Management Foundations Performing Public Duty and set out new requirements for the operation and composition of the senates of the universities concerned. The National Higher Education Act also defines the framework for the representation of academic staff and researchers, students and doctoral candidates, other university employees, and trade unions. 

Compliance with the new statutory provisions was required by 31 October 2026 at the latest. Accordingly, MOME amended its Organisational and Operational Rules and elected a new Senate whose composition met the statutory requirements, following the procedure and structure established by the previous Senate. The election took place in October 2026, with substantial participation from the university community.  

The results indicate that the election drew significant interest. 90 per cent of the elected representatives, and more than 90 per cent of the Senate's full membership, had already served on the previous body. The overall membership of the two Senates is 77.78 per cent identical, demonstrating that the new Senate's work will build on the experience gained by its predecessor, while retaining a substantial degree of continuity in its membership.  

This year’s MOME Senate elections illustrate how organisational change can go hand in hand with institutional stability. A total of 24 previous members are continuing their work on the Senate, while seven new members have joined the body. The combination of continuity and change ensures that the experience gained during the previous term and the perspectives of its newly elected members both inform university decision-making at a particularly significant time for MOME and Hungarian higher education as a whole.