BUDAPEST, Hungary, October 28 /PRNewswire/ -- George Soros on Monday delivered the first of a series of lectures that reflects the culmination of a lifetime of thinking on finance, politics, and open society.

International cooperation on regulatory reform is almost impossible to achieve on a piecemeal basis, but it may be attainable in a grand bargain where the entire financial order is rearranged, said Soros, the founder of the Central European University, which is hosting the five lectures.

Soros is speaking via live video link with students at leading universities across three continents. He will also discuss his latest thinking with top economists and commentators.

The CEU Lecture Series is a watershed moment for the Central European University. We place the highest value on bringing together cutting edge thinkers and students from all over the world to grapple with the most pressing problems of our day, said John Shattuck, President and Rector of the Central European University.

The lectures will continue throughout the week and are being held at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in Budapest. The video links will include the London School of Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Columbia University, and Hong Kong University.

The lecture videos will be made available by the Financial Times online at www.ft.com/soroslectures after the event each day.

Central European University is a graduate institution in the social sciences, the humanities, law and management. Located in the heart of Central Europe -- Budapest, Hungary -- CEU has developed a distinct academic and intellectual focus, combining the comparative study of the region's historical, cultural, and social diversity within a global perspective on good governance, sustainable development and social transformation. As part of its educational, research, and civic engagement activities, CEU attaches particular importance to public policy and public policy studies. It is accredited in both the United States and Hungary, and offers English-language Master's and doctoral programs.

The Open Society Institute works to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens. To achieve its mission, OSI seeks to shape public policies that assure greater fairness in political, legal, and economic systems and safeguard fundamental rights. On a local level, OSI implements a range of initiatives to advance justice, education, public health, and independent media.

SOURCE: Open Society Institute

CONTACT: Ildiko Moran of Central European University, +36-306193534,morani@ceu.hu; or Laura Silber of Open Society Institute, +1-917-545-5316 ,lsilber@sorosny.org