The University of Zenica expresses its strongest protest against the continuous political pressure and violation of the academic self-government and institutional autonomy of the University by the President of the Governing Board and the political structures that support him, including the current Prime Minister of the Zenica-Doboj Canton.
The President of the Governing Board, with the open support of the cantonal executive, is brutally abusing his position with the aim of a complete political takeover of the University, contrary to the Framework Law on Higher Education in BiH, academic principles and moral norms.
We alert the public to the following facts:
- Budget inspection and internal audit found no irregularities in the work of the rector, which clearly denied all the allegations of the President of the Board of Directors.
- The President of the Board of Directors continuously acts contrary to the fundamental principles of institutional responsibility and academic autonomy, leaving the impression that The university treats it as private property . At the same time, he acts as a representative of the founder, even though he is an employee of the University, which represents an obvious conflict of interest.
- He misused the University seal. without the knowledge and authorization of the rector.
- Contrary to the Framework Law on Higher Education of BiH and the decisions of the Constitutional Court of BiH, the Governing Board adopted decision on the dismissal of the rector, which the Senate - as the highest academic body with an absolute majority of votes, legally founded, annulled, because it was based on flat-rate and politically motivated claims of the president of the Board of Directors.
- Continuous mobbing the Rectorate's administrative and technical services, destroying the morale and functionality of the institution.
- The President of the Board of Directors refused to sign the Annex to the employment contract with the Rector which aligns wages with legal and collective obligations, although there is no legal obstacle to this.
- He suo motu, unauthorizedly and illegally filed a request with the Municipal Court for deletion of the current rector from the court register, thereby attempting to legally paralyze the work of the University.
- An employee of the University was forced to assemble against him official note due to pressures, which indicates mobbing and harassment of employees at the University.
It is clear that the goal of this destructive campaign is to place the University under political control, in order to ensure that individuals within the government structures and members close to them have three teaching norms, award appointments to incompetent associates and teachers, and have privileged access to projects - contrary to the principles of academic integrity and the law.
The university is not and will not be anyone's private enterprise, nor will it become a training ground for the distribution of political sinecures.
We invite:
- Cantonal Assembly and competent judicial institutions to urgently investigate the aforementioned abuses and protect the academic self-governance and institutional autonomy and integrity of the University;
- The academic community of Bosnia and Herzegovina and international partners to raise their voices against attempts to stifle the autonomy of higher education institutions;
- Public, students and citizens to recognize the seriousness of the situation and support the fight for the independent, professional and legal work of the University.
The University is the foundation of knowledge, freedom and progress. We will not allow it to become a victim of political voluntarism and private interests. The University of Zenica remains firmly committed to academic independence, legality, expertise and the construction of a higher education system in the service of the common good.
Rector of the University of Zenica
Prof. Ph.D. sc. Jusuf Durakovic
BA