Announcement of MASA regarding the competition of the Provincial Secretariat for financing short-term research projects

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Nastavlja se netransparentno finansiranje projekata od strane Pokrajinskog sekretarijata za visoko obrazovanje i naučno istraživačku delatnost AP Vojvodine

Mreža akademske solidarnosti i angažovanosti od svog osnivanja prati aktivnosti Pokrajinskog sekretarijata za visoko obrazovanje i naučno istraživačku delatnost (skr. Pokrajinski sekretarijat), a naročito konkurse za finansiranje istraživačkih projekata visokoškolskih institucija. U prethodne dve godine, MASA je uputila dva saopštenja u vezi sa netransparentnošću konkursa za finansiranje kratkoročnih istraživačkih projekata visokoškolskih institucija i jednom prilikom pohvalila izvestan napredak koji je učinjen u transparentnosti objavljivanja rezultata istoimenog konkursa.

Dvadeset šestog novembra 2021. godine Pokrajinski sekretarijat objavio je rezultate konkursa za (su)finansiranje projekata od značaja za razvoj naučnoistraživačke delatnosti AP Vojvodine za projektni ciklus 2021-2024. U odnosu na konkurse za finansiranje kratkoročnih projekata koje je do sada pratila MASA, primetan je napor da se u samom tekst konkursa konkretnije definišu kriterijumi bodovanja projekata, što je bio jedan od zahteva MASE u prethodnim obraćanjima Pokrajinskom sekretarijatu. Ipak, smatramo da je jedan od definisanih kriterijuma – značaj predloga projekta za razvoj naučnoistraživačke delatnosti AP Vojvodine definisan veoma uopšteno, bez specifikovanja tema koje bi zavredele takav poseban značaj. Po ovom kriterijumu projektima se može dodeliti do 9 bodova, čime se ostavlja prostor za provizorno dodeljivanje značajnog broja bodova čime se može uticati na finalni ishod evaluacije. Uz to, tekst konkursa koji definiše da „odluku o prihvatanju projekata donosi pokrajinski sekretar imajući u vidu mišljenje stručnih komisija“ formalno i dalje ostavlja prostor da se sredstva dodele mimo jasno definisanih kriterijuma izvrsnosti.

Glavni izvor netransparentnosti rezultata navedenog konkursa i dalje leži u dve stvari:

a) sve projekte unutar naučnih oblasti recenziraju stručne komisije za datu oblast koje se sastoje od tri do četiri člana. Izvesno je da takva komisija, bez obzira na naučne kompetencije u sopstvenoj oblasti, ne može biti kompetentna za sve uže oblasti iz kojih dolaze predlozi projekata. Uz to, nije izbegnuta mogućnost konflikta interesa onda kada članovi stručne komisije dolaze iz iste institucije kao i predlagači projekata. Podsećamo da je predlog MASE bio da stručne komisije samo biraju recenzente projekata, ali da ih same ne vrednuju, kao i da se radi umanjivanja konflikta interesa potenciraju recenzenti iz institucija izvan AP Vojvodive.

b) rezultati konkursa objavljeni su samo u obliku ukupnog broja bodova i ukupne ocene Stručne komisije, što i dalje ostavlja prostor za sumnje u pogledu objektivnosti vrednovanja. Naime, iz objavljenih rezultata konkursa nije vidljivo koliko bodova su predlozi projekata dobili po pojedinačnim kriterijumima, pri čemu je najznačajnije bilo istaći broj bodova za ocenu predloga projekta (koja se sastoji iz ocena naučno tehnološke izvrsnosti, očekivanog uticaja i implementacije) i ocenu značaja predloga projekta za razvoj naučnoistraživačke delatnosti AP Vojvodine.

Konačno, prilikom objavljivanja rezultata projekta nadležni iz Pokrajinskog sekretarijata nisu održali dobru praksu koju su usvojili na prošlogodišnjem konkursu za kratkoročne projekte, a na kojoj je institirala MASA, da se svi rukovodioci predloženih projekata obaveste emailom o rezultatima projekta. Rezultati su okačeni na sajt Pokrajinskog sekretarijata bez upućivanja zainteresovanih strana na to da su objavljeni. Ipak, pohvalno je to što je ovaj put zbirne rezultate evaluacije sa celokupnom listom (odobrenih i neodobrenih) projekata moguće pronaći na stranici datog konkursa, što ranijih godina nije bio slučaj.

Support for MASE professors and students of Bosphorus University

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Network of Academic Solidarity and Engagement (MASA) is strongly supporting the attempts of teachers and students from the Bosphorus University to defend university autonomy and to resist the government and president of Turkey's attempts to devastate basic democratic and academic principles. Also, we strongly condemn various decisions and acts of the government and president of Turkey which lead to arrest and imprisonment of students, presence of uniformed police stationed with machine guns and riot intervention vehicles around the campus and within the campus, depriving students right to education , dismissing of full time professors and other valuable lecturers, imposing government obedient rectors, treating Senate and Executive Board members with disrespect... We should emphasize that Bosphorus University is not the first to suffer from this authoritarian and antidemocratic policy, this is also affecting all public universities in Turkey. Also, many universities around the world today face similar anti-democratic attacks launched by authoritarian and/or neoliberal governments. The struggle of our colleagues and students from the Bosphorus University is a part of the international struggle for university autonomy and democracy.

The Network of Academic Solidarity and Engagement (MASA) strongly supports the attempts of teachers and students from Bosphorus University to defend the autonomy of the university and to resist the attempts of the government and president of Turkey to devastate basic democratic and academic principles. Also, we strongly condemn the various decisions and actions of the government and the president of Turkey that lead to the arrest and imprisonment of students, the presence of uniformed police stationed with machine guns and intervention vehicles in the surroundings and inside the campus, the denial of students' right to education, the dismissal of regular professors and other valuable lecturers, the imposition government-obedient rectors, disrespect for members of the Senate and the Executive Board... It should also be emphasized that Bosphorus University is not the first to suffer from authoritarian and anti-democratic policies, but that this also applies to all state universities in Turkey. Also, many universities around the world today face similar anti-democratic attacks launched by authoritarian and/or neoliberal governments. The struggle of our colleagues and students from Bosphorus University is part of the international struggle for university autonomy and democracy.

Open letter of MASE to the editor-in-chief of RTS

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Draganu Bujoševiću, generalnom direktoru RTS-a

Poštovani g. Bujoševiću,
Obraćamo Vam se jer verujemo da ste saglasni da živimo u vreme krize autoriteta, kada se sve i svako dovodi u pitanje, kada se često prevaranti i šarlatani dovode u istu ravan sa ljudima od struke i znanja. Mreža akademske solidarnosti i angažovanosti se upravo zalaže za promovisanje struke kao nezaobilaznog činioca u donošenju odluka iz domena javnih politika i smatra da se one o pitanjima za koje postoje naučni i stručni autoriteti ne smeju donositi unutar zatvorenih političkih krugova.

S druge strane, često se u našoj javnosti stiče utisak da struka i nauka ćute, da je akademska zajednica nema kada su u pitanju teme od javnog interesa. I mada i mi smatramo da bi naša akademska i stručna javnost morale da budu daleko glasnije, želimo da sa Vama podelimo bojazan da se u našem društvu namerno stvara utisak o njihovom ćutanju.

Jer, kako drugačije objasniti muk naših medija, i to gotovo svih elektronskih medija sa javnom frekvencijom, u pogledu činjenice da je naša najpozvanija i najstručnija akademska institucija, Građevinski fakultet Univerziteta u Beogradu, podneo primedbe na nacrt verovatno najvećeg investicionog projekta u zemlji, beogradskog metroa, u kojima između ostalog stoji da predloženi plan nije dobar, da će efekti izgradnje metroa na smanjenje saobraćajnih problema biti zanemarljivi, a troškovi enormni.

O tome da je najstarija i najuglednija naučna i stručna institucija u oblasti građevinarstva na Balkanu dala svoj stav po ključnom pitanju za budućnost Beograda, naša javnost nije obaveštena. Građani Srbije ne znaju da se ovako nešto dogodilo, što omogućava onima koji vrše javne funkcije da ignorišu mišljenje struke. A u tome im, nažalost, ključnu podršku daju srpski mediji.

Medicinski fakultet Univerziteta u Beogradu, opet kao institucija, izašao je pred javnost Srbije i ukazao na značaj vakcinacije za zdravlje našeg stanovništva. I pored toga, srpski mediji u pogledu vakcinacije redovno prostor daju onima koji stručnoj zajednici ne pripadaju, niti ih ona prepoznaje kao sagovornike. Dakle, mi pred sobom imamo jasan primer, primer koji je koštao možda hiljade ljudskih života, da su srpski mediji, i to ponovo gotovo svi oni koji imaju nacionalne frekvencije, svesno izabrali šarlatane, nadrilekare i neznalice, njima dali prostor i na njih usmerili pažnju građana Srbije, dok za našu nauku i struku, nauku i struku koje nisu ćutale i nisu se krile, ti mediji jednostavno nisu imali vremena.

Konačno, kada je u pitanju kontroverzni projekat rudnika u Jadru, iza koga stoji multinacionalna korporacija Rio Tinto, pod okriljem SANU je održan naučni skup sa koga su svi najodgovorniji srpski akademici poslali poruku, poruku koja je pretočena u pismo Ministarstvu rudarstva i energetike koje su ti akademici i potpisali, a u kome se jasno navodi da bi ovakav rudnik naneo velike i nepopravljive štete ne samo kraju u kojem bi bio otvoren, nego i celoj Srbiji.

Ono u šta mi možemo da se uverimo je da dok sve srpske televizije sa javnom frekvencijom, uključujući i onu na čijem ste čelu, ćute o tome šta su na temu rudnika u Jadru rekle najstručnije i najumnije glave koje Srbija ima u oblasti fizičke metalurgije, hemije, biologije i ekologije, mi sa malih ekrana možemo da gledamo plaćene poruke Rio Tinta u kojima nas ta korporacija ubeđuje o svojim dobrim i iskrenim namerama.
Mi moramo ovim putem da Vam postavimo pitanje da li Vaša kuća omogućava ostvarivanje javnog interesa u oblasti javnog informisanja kada ne pozove predstavnike Građevinskog fakulteta da obrazlože stav ove institucije prema predloženom planu beogradskog metroa?

Da li, uvaženi g. Bujoševiću, ignorisanje nedvosmislenog stava najstručnijih akademika u oblasti metalurgije, hemije i ekologije u vezi sa rudnikom u Jadru predstavlja istinito, blagovremeno, potpuno, nepristrasno i profesionalno informisanje građana i omogućavanje slobodnog formiranja njihovog mišljenja, naročito ako se u obzir uzme očigledna negadljivost na novac za taj projekat zainteresovane multinacionalne korporacije, čije reklame uredno puštate u etar.

Kakva je odgovornost srpskih medija i onih koji utiču na njihovu uređivačku politiku za katastrofalno stanje kada je u pitanju vakcinacija građana Srbije, koji su nepoverenje prema vakcinaciji izgradili pre svega na porukama koje im se svakodnevno nude sa televizija sa nacionalnom frekvencijom sada već gotovo čitavu deceniju.

Imajući u vidu sve navedeno, Mreža akademske solidarnosti i angažovanosti zahteva od Vas i kuće koju vodite, da saglasno obavezama koje su vam propisane Zakonom o javnim medijskim servisima, omogućite u najskorijem vremenu prostor na Prvom programu RTS za iznošenje stavova akademske i stručne javnosti i to upravo po ovim pitanjima po kojima je njen stav tako nedvosmisleno jasno zauzet, da su iza njega stale i same institucije, a ne samo pozvani pojedinci. Uz to, smatramo da je neophodno, da svoj program učinite dostupnim za otvaranje javne rasprave o evidentnom ignorisanju naše akademske i stručne javnosti od strane kako srpskih vlasti, tako i naših medija. Pomozite nam da glas naše struke i nauke dođe do građana koji plaćaju i nas, ali i vas. Kada akademska i stručna javnost ćute, one time pokazuju nepoštovanje prema onima zbog kojih postoje i koji ih izdržavaju. Verujemo da ćete se složiti da isto važi i za javni medijski servis koji svojim gledaocima uskraćuje ono što bi građani morali da čuju. Zato Vam mi stojimo na raspolaganju kao saveznici da ovakvo stanje stvari ispravimo.

S poštovanjem,
Network of academic solidarity and engagement

MASA appeals to provide conditions for the return of students to the faculties

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In a situation where we are starting another academic year at universities across the country in a virtual environment due to the large number of fellow citizens infected with the new virus COVID-19, the Network of Academic Solidarity and Engagement (MASA) with great concern invites all key actors to a joint agreement to ensure safe conditions for the return of classes to amphitheatres and classrooms. We point to the fact that a large number of Serbian citizens are still not effectively protected from the virus, and we are particularly concerned that a large number of students and educators have not yet made the decision to get vaccinated. MASA appeals to all academic citizens to refrain from spreading false and unverified theories. Also, we invite the academic community to start a dialogue in which expert opinions would be heard and all possible doubts and doubts that our students and colleagues have regarding the necessary immunization would be answered. 

No matter how well some faculties have organized themselves and managed during the previous 18 months to achieve undoubted progress in teaching in an online environment, we believe that direct contact between teachers and students is irreplaceable and necessary in order not to further derogate the education system and the level of acquired knowledge. our students. Thanks to the availability of vaccines today, it is possible to ensure direct contact between teachers and students and, to the greatest extent possible, avoid online teaching, especially when it comes to practical exercises. That is why MASA welcomes the steps taken independently by individual faculties in this regard, including the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Belgrade.

However, it is necessary that the teaching framework be as uniform as possible at all universities and faculties in Serbia, so that everyone can be sure that we are acting in accordance with the law and that no participant in the educational process will be unfairly harmed. Therefore, it is necessary for the relevant ministry to offer a framework for the actions of universities and faculties, which is in accordance with the current regulations on the protection of the population from infectious diseases, and at the same time does not encroach on the guaranteed autonomy of universities. Our regulations allow the limitation of certain rights in order to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, but in order to remove doubts that have existed in the public since the beginning of the pandemic, it is important to give clear and precise instructions.

Faculties will, of course, play a key role in the implementation of the measures recommended by the relevant ministry in agreement with the universities. We do not expect faculties to take on the role of inspection services, but to ensure, in accordance with their educational function, together with students, that the faculties and the university are a safe place for everyone.

In accordance with the above, MASA also appeals to all political and other actors to refrain from criticizing decisions and actions related to the organization of teaching at faculties in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially from extreme positions, whether they are opponents or advocates of the need for the vaccination of our students. We especially invite the Crisis Staff for the Suppression of the Infectious Disease COVID-19 as the most responsible authority to finally start communicating with the public in a clear and transparent manner. The previous messages sent by that body to the public are confusing and contradictory, and seem calculated to further antagonize the already divided public in Serbia.

MASA appeals to the academic community to unite as soon as possible on the issue of giving priority to direct teaching in the classroom while respecting epidemiological rules and ethics, which means mass vaccination and mass testing. We believe that the basic duty of the academic community is to advocate for the preservation and improvement of the quality of education at all levels, while nurturing the scientific approach and the right of every member of the academic community to critical thinking based on arguments and evidence.

MAS announcement regarding the payment of jubilee awards to employees in higher education

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Jubilarna nagrada, jedno od prava radnika u vidu novčane naknade za ostvareni određeni broj godina radnog staža, se na velikom broju visokoškolskih ustanova u Republici Srbiji se uopšte ne isplaćuje, dok se u nekim slučajevima isplaćuje samo delu zaposlenih. Još jedan od problema sa kojima se susrećemo jeste nedovoljno informisanje samih zaposlenih, od kojih veliki broj ne zna da je isplata jubilarnih nagrada svim zaposlenima garantovana posebnim kolektivnim ugovorom.

U članu 1. Posebnog kolektivnog ugovora za visoko obrazovanje, navodi se da se istim uređuju: „prava, obaveze i odgovornosti iz rada i po osnovu rada zaposlenih u visokoškolskim ustanovama čiji je osnivač Republika Srbija“, dok u članu 23, stav 5. piše: „Poslodavac je dužan da isplati zaposlenom jubilarnu nagradu u godini kada navrši 10, 20 ili 30 godina rada ostvarenog u radnom odnosu“. Poseban kolektivni ugovor primenjuje se na sve visokoškolske ustanove čiji je osnivač Republika Srbija, odnosno autonomna pokrajina, a kao poslodavca on određuje ustanovu. Poseban kolektivni ugovor za visoko obrazovanje u skladu je sa članom 120, stav 1. tačka 1) Zakona o radu: „Opštim aktom, odnosno ugovorom o radu može da se utvrdi pravo na jubilarnu nagradu i solidarnu pomoć“.

S obzirom na navedeneo, MASA smatra da je neprihvatljivo da bilo koja visokoškolska ustanova, čiji je osnivač Republika Srbija, svojim zaposlenima ne isplaćuje jubilarne nagrade. Takođe, prilikom isplate jubilarnih nagrada ne bi se smela praviti razlika u pogledu zvanja, s obzirom na to da na pojedinim fakultetima praksa je da se koleginicama i kolegama u istraživačkim zvanjima ovakva vrsta nadoknade ne isplaćuje. Imajući u vidu da se Poseban kolektivni ugovor odnosi na nastavno i nenastavno osoblje i da su istraživači zaposleni na fakultetima deo nastavnog osoblja (videti član 72. Zakona o visokom obrazovanju), ispunjeni su svi uslovi da i ovaj korpus zaposlenih, kao i svi ostali koji ovime nisu obuhvaćeni, ostvari pravo na isplatu jubilarnih nagrada. 

 

MASA's opinion on the proposal of the Program for the Improvement of Public Policy Management and Regulatory Reform 2021-2025 regarding the public hearing that was opened on August 27, 2021. and lasts until 15.09.2021.

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Networks of Academic Solidarity and Engagement (MASA) sent an opinion to the Republic Secretariat for Public Policy at proposal of the Program for the Improvement of Public Policy Management and Regulatory Reform 2021-2025 on the occasion of the public hearing that was opened on August 27, 2021. and lasts until 15.09.2021.

We are transmitting the content of the letter in its entirety.

The Republic Secretariat for Public Policies (RSJP) opened a public debate on the prepared Program for the Improvement of Public Policy Management and Regulatory Reform 2021-2025. Special objective 1 of the Public Administration Reform Strategy in the RS 2021-2030 - Improved quality of public policy documents and regulations is elaborated in this Program.

In the previous period, MASA participated in public debates that were initiated on the occasion of the adoption of several documents from the domain of public policies and regulations governing the field of higher education and scientific research work, and on that occasion numerous omissions were observed when it comes to: procedures, compliance with the provisions of the Law about the planning system, the quality of those documents, and finally, the degree of respect for the proposals and suggestions given on some provisions of specific public policies and regulations. For this reason, there is an interest in reacting and making some comments on the Program that would, among other things, resolve the perceived shortcomings.

The essence of our comments and suggestions is focused on Special Objective 2.

Code of measure 2.3. we have a proposal to emphasize the possibility of exchange and availability of data collected by ODU with the scientific and research community.

Code of measure 2.4. it is not entirely clear in the text, whether the process of announcing the competition, selecting research teams, conducting research, creating a new public policy or correcting the existing one, as well as measuring the effects, i.e. effectiveness of such an approach to last from 2022 - 2025, or is there some other dynamic in question?

When it comes to the training of civil servants, from the text of the Program, NAJU is seen as the most relevant institution for conducting training. Is it possible to involve the scientific and research community through another form of cooperation, by designing and organizing short study programs based on the Rulebook on the organization, implementation, issuing of certificates and the record-keeping procedure for short study programs (Official Gazette of the RS No. 32/2019)?

Code of measure 2.5. we are talking about the Group for Innovations in Public Policies, our proposal is to see more clearly and precisely the competences of this group, as well as the possibility of involving members of the scientific and research community in its work. The text generally talks about the advantages of an innovative approach in the creation of public policies, as well as the possibilities to involve interested parties, but it is not seen concretely, how it can look like through the work of the aforementioned Innovation Group. 

We believe that the involvement of the scientific-research community in the process of creating public policies can be done/presented in several ways, not only through the process of research and data submission, but also through numerous other cooperation mechanisms: from networking, participating in innovative solutions and procedures for creating public policies - to the design and implementation of various types of training and the preparation of publications, i.e. schools that can be used for the education of civil servants. In the text of the Program, it is not indicated in the most precise way, but it seems to us that it is important.  

Report from the forum dedicated to scientific research and teaching work in the country and cooperation with the diaspora

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On Wednesday, July 14, Club "Polet" held a forum entitled "Academic emigration - scientific research and teaching work in the country and cooperation with the diaspora". The gathering was organized by the Network of Academic Solidarity and Engagement (MASA), and the latest study on academic emigration, which was initiated by MASA, was presented. The authors of the study are Milica Vesković Anđelković from the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade, Milica Tošić, research associate at the Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade, and Vladan Čokić, scientific advisor at the same institute and member of the MASE Coordination Board.

In addition to the three authors, the following also spoke at the forum:

Gordana Bjelobrk - head of the Department of Demography of the Republic Institute of Statistics,

Jelena Predojević-Despić - research associate at the Institute of Social Sciences,

Gazela Pudar Draško - director of the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory and member of the Coordination Board of MASE.

Vladan Čokić, who opened and moderated the forum, emphasized in the introductory part that through this study and the initiation of a public debate on academic emigration, MASA wanted to review and present to the general public the state of cooperation between the scientific and teaching community in Serbia with the diaspora, as well as to give suggestions on how to deepen and strengthen this cooperation at the systemic level. This study is only the first step in engaging MASE with the aim of contributing to improvements in this area.

Milica Tošić mainly spoke about the methodology of this research. She stated that a total of 1,130 researchers from the country and the diaspora filled out the survey. They answered two different questionnaires - one was intended for scientific workers from Serbia who still live abroad or have returned to the country after spending more than a year on training, and the other for those who have never left Serbia or spent less than a year outside it. The most important questions related to the motives for leaving and later return, the current state of science in our country, the current state policy in the given area, as well as satisfaction with the cooperation of domestic scientific institutions with the academic community in the diaspora.

Milica Vesković Anđelković continued her presentation, highlighting the results of the research. One of the main results is that the motives for the departure of members of the academic community from Serbia are no longer of an economic nature, but rather opportunities for improvement and the acquisition of new knowledge and contacts. Also, more than half of those who leave do not want to stay permanently in other countries, but plan their return in the short or medium period. On the other hand, of the total number of scientists who participated in the research and have not left the country so far, quite a few intend to do so, and only slightly more than 7% have taken concrete steps to that end. The research also showed that scientists in the diaspora really feel like a part of Serbia and that they are ready to invest their time and knowledge and participate in improving the state of education and science in the country they come from. Through 50%, they already cooperate in some way with faculties and institutes in Serbia, and most of the rest would do so if they had the opportunity.

Milica Vesković Anđelković reminded that academic emigration is not a new phenomenon, but dates back to the 19th century, and that people who, after acquiring knowledge at prestigious European universities, returned to Serbia, always brought new value and were the driver of development. However, in the age of the most modern technologies, the emphasis should no longer be even on return, but on cooperation and communication: "Today, we transmit information in a moment thanks to the Internet and the contacts we have. So that return to the country is not really necessary. Maybe even, if we take into account that they are gaining new knowledge and are excellent ambassadors of our country, we should not regret their departure, but we should encourage them and create good conditions for cooperation with them and their involvement in development projects in the country."

Gordana Bjelobrk, head of the Department of Demography at this institution, confirmed that the data from the study coincide with the general statistical data of the Republic Institute of Statistics. Serbia is faced with the problem of emigration, especially since the people who leave the country are on average younger and with a higher level of education compared to the total population in Serbia. However, the numbers are not as dramatic as is often mentioned in the public, because there is also a significant number of returnees.

Jelena Predojević-Despić pointed out that it is good that in the entire region in recent years there has been a stronger interest in using academic emigration as one of the drivers of scientific and social development, but that the previous policies have not had a significant effect: "All the countries of the Western Balkans have undertaken certain measures towards the migration of the highly educated, but, regardless of the fact that the importance of such measures is recognized, it cannot be said that good results have been achieved and that some development effect has been achieved in any of those countries. For now, the real winners of academic migration are only the countries of destination."

Gazela Pudar Draško spoke at this forum not only as a member of the MASE Coordination Board, but also as the director of the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, where as many as 20 out of a total of 48 scientific associates are returnees from abroad. She spoke about the biggest systemic obstacles for the return of highly educated personnel. These are: general insecurity, lack of rule of law and inability to find a job regardless of expertise. The Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory is an example of good practice in terms of hiring such staff, because the atmosphere is most reminiscent of scientific institutions in the West.

That there is a huge scope for improving the cooperation of the academic community in Serbia with the diaspora is also shown by the answers from the study, according to which over 50% respondents who are engaged in domestic scientific and educational institutions want to cooperate with their colleagues who are currently abroad, but do not have way to do it, while there is a similar percentage of respondents from the academic diaspora who are interested in contributing to the work of faculties and institutes in Serbia, but do not have a framework for this type of engagement. Such data indicate both the academic community and the state to a problem, but also to a kind of opportunity for our compatriots, who are currently studying scientifically mainly in the countries of Western Europe and North America, to give a new and different impetus to the development of teaching and scientific research activities in our country.

 

Invitation to the forum of Academic emigration

Posted on by MASS in News

As part of the study on academic emigration, the Network of Academic Solidarity and Engagement (MASA) is organizing on 14.07.2021. at 7:00 p.m. at Club Polet (address: Cetinjska 15, Belgrade) a forum entitled: Academic emigration - scientific research and teaching work in the country and cooperation with the diaspora.
The survey on academic emigration was completed by 1130 researchers and teachers from Serbia and the diaspora. The goal of the study is to systematically deepen the cooperation of researchers and teachers from the country and the diaspora with the experiences of returnees, after an initial overview of the current situation. The interlocutors at the forum will be:

• Milica Vesković Anđelković, docent from the Faculty of Philosophy, UB.
• Gordana Bjelobrk, head of the Department of Demography of the Republic Institute for Statistics.
• Gazela Pudar Draško, research associate and director of the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, UB.
• Jelena Predojević-Despić, research associate at the Institute of Social Sciences.
• Milica Tošić, research associate at the Institute for Medical Research, UB.

Moderator: Vladan Čokić, scientific advisor of the Institute for Medical Research, UB.

Serbia is traditionally a country of emigration with a large academic diaspora around the world. Therefore, it is important that our academic diaspora be recognized as an important potential of domestic social development. Along with the failures in preserving and upgrading the foundations of Serbian science, the academic community in the country should also be respected, which has succeeded, often without sufficient funds for work, to make strides in world science and create new generations that will partly go to the world again. The goal of the research conducted by MASA was to map the conditions for creating a stimulating environment (social and economic) for the development of science in the country, then the conditions for motivating and supporting the cooperation of the domestic academic community and our experts from the diaspora, as well as creating conditions for active and effective involvement returnees to the academic community of Serbia.

Study on practices for reporting sexual harassment at colleges presented in Belgrade

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On Tuesday, June 22, 2021, the forum "Sexual harassment at colleges - analysis of regulations and practices" was held in the organization of the Network of Academic Solidarity and Engagement (MASA) in the "Polet" club. The occasion for this gathering was the promotion of the Study on practices for reporting sexual harassment at colleges, the preparation of which was initiated by MASA.

Researcher from the Institute for Sociological Research and author of the study, Milica Resanović, explained the methodology of the study and presented some of the most important recommendations for faculties in Serbia. The basic recommendation is that all faculties and other scientific-research institutions introduce regulations on sexual harassment, because for now there are very few of them. One such internal institutional document should contain precise instructions for preventing and effective mechanisms for sanctioning such acts. The key difference is that the normative acts in other countries of the region and Europe regulate the relations and permissible behaviors between employees and students much better. Another aspect that is emphasized is the education of employees, as well as male and female students.

Sanja Pavlović from the Autonomous Women's Center stated that sexual harassment is the most widespread form of sexual violence and violence against women in general, because it happens all around us - at home, on the street, in transport, at the workplace, in educational institutions. Sexual harassment is often conditionally defined as the mildest form of sexual violence, but it can produce equally shocking and severe consequences for the victim as other, more severe forms.

Andrea Pjević, student vice-dean at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts, reflected on the situation at her faculty, since recently the attention of the public in the context of sexual harassment has been focused on FDU: "The sanctions and warnings issued according to the existing regulations are extremely small. I'm not sure how much these warnings are enough to encourage someone to report the violence. The procedure itself is complex, takes a long time and is extremely tiring for someone who is dealing with it. That's why victims give up. The regulations need to be changed, because the existing code defines what you can wear much more precisely than what someone can say or do to you."

This was followed up by a professor at the same faculty, Irena Ristić, who said that the only punishment that has been used so far is a public condemnation, which is symbolic and does not bring any consequences in the academic career of the perpetrator. Amendments to the rulebook are needed because the current sanctions are almost supportive in nature.

University ombudsman and associate professor of the Faculty of Security, Mladen Milošević, reminded that the faculties cannot be the primary link for sanctioning this type of violence, because sexual harassment is defined as a criminal offense according to the Criminal Code, but also as a violation of the right to work according to the current Labor Law. State authorities are the ones who impose the most important sanctions. However, college and university bodies must be part of the chain in combating this widespread socially dangerous behavior.

This forum was moderated by Bojana Bodroža, an assistant professor at the Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad and a member of the MASE Coordination Board.

MASA expresses its regret for the cases of sexual harassment in IS Petnica

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MASA expresses its regret for the news about cases of sexual harassment, blackmail and abuse that are coming from the Petnica Investigation Station these days. A large number of employees in the field of science and higher education participated as collaborators in the work of this research station in the years behind us. Precisely because of this, we believe that the sensitization of all employees in education, and beyond, is necessary in order to react in a timely and adequate manner when the very signs of such events appear.

MASA calls on all educational and scientific institutions to always put the best interest of the victims first - before the image of the institution or friendly and collegial relations with the perpetrators. This is especially important when the victims are minors and young people who are not yet strong and mature enough to clearly set boundaries, as well as when there is an imbalance of power, as is often the case in the educational context. It is very important to give full trust to victims and not to minimize their experiences, because behind every woman who strengthens herself to ask for help and support, there are often dozens of those who keep their painful experiences inside with feelings of guilt and self-loathing.

Educational and scientific institutions must make efforts to educate both students and employees about what constitutes sexual harassment, and traditional gender roles and norms of behavior must not be an excuse to turn a blind eye to the unpleasant and traumatic experiences of victims. It is important that all participants recognize personal responsibility in that process. In the field of education, as in our entire society, we must develop zero tolerance for gender-based violence.

In an effort to help scientific and research institutions to introduce formal mechanisms for the protection of students and employees from sexual harassment, MASA initiated the implementation of research on the rules and practices of protection against sexual harassment, and the results of this study with recommendations intended for scientific and research institutions will be publicly available on available to all interested parties.