Author: MASS

MASA welcomes decision of the Committee for Professional Ethics of the University of Belgrade which established non-academic behavior, i.e. plagiarism, of the current Minister of Finance of the Republic of Serbia, Siniša Malog, during the preparation of his doctoral dissertation. 

This has not yet put an end to the affair that seriously shook the credibility and integrity of the University of Belgrade, but it has set a clear framework for the further struggle against the collapse of its autonomy and dignity. In accordance with the mentioned Decision, we expect a quick reaction of the Senate of the University. We believe that this Decision will contribute to other joint efforts to stop non-compliance with the rules, procedures and ethical standards that are the basic guarantors of the institutional independence of our academic institutions. 

The entire academic community in Serbia, as well as the general public, expected the Committee for Professional Ethics of the University of Belgrade to make a decision on the validity of Sinisa Malog's doctorate on November 4, 2019.

This date is fixed by agreement of 24.09.2019. between the administration of the University of Belgrade and the students who blocked the Rector's office, demanding that the issue of the disputed doctorate of Sinisa Malog, which has been threatening the reputation of the University of Belgrade for more than five years, be finally resolved.

Extension of the deadline for the final decision until November 22, 2019. it's an unpleasant surprise.
Rector of the University of Belgrade, prof. Ph.D. Ivanka Popović explained that, due to an oversight in the interpretation of the regulations, and considering the newly created circumstances after the decision of the Faculty of Organizational Sciences, it is necessary to extend the deadline in order to comply with the appeal procedure of 15 days.

The omission in the interpretation of regulations is big and unpleasant both for the academic community and for the general public. However, we are of the opinion that this was not the result of the intention, because delaying the resolution of this issue cannot bring any benefit to the academic community. On the contrary!

We fully understand the dissatisfaction of students due to these circumstances. We also understand, and we're sure the students do, that the delay is really necessary for procedural reasons. If the appeal deadline is not met, we would provide an opportunity to have the Professional Ethics Board's decision overturned in court.

In other words, we are ready to wait, together with the students, for the final decision to be made within valid academic and legal frameworks. In the meantime, the teachers and researchers of the University of Belgrade will also file appeals against the FON's decision regarding Sinisa Malog's doctorate.

We express our belief that, based on the unequivocal, and publicly presented, evidence of plagiarism in Sinisa Malog's doctorate, the Committee for Professional Ethics of the University of Belgrade will make the correct decision on November 22.

We, the teachers and researchers of the University of Belgrade, stand by our students and will support any student initiative that will protect the academic integrity, reputation and autonomy of our university. The university, made up of teachers, researchers and students, represents the intellectual force on which the foundations of modern society rest. We will not allow these values to collapse.

Initiative University support #1 of 5 million
Network of Academic Solidarity and Engagement - MASA

Mreža akademske solidarnosti i angažovanosti poziva koleginice i kolege sa univerziteta u Srbiji i ostale zainteresovane, da potpišu peticiju kojom se od nadležnog ministarstva i uprave Univerziteta u Beogradu traži da stanu u zaštitu autonomije Pravoslavnog bogoslovskog fakulteta (PBF), kao punopravne članice Univerziteta. Ukazujemo da je Sinod SPC sledećim postupcima grubo prekršio i nastavlja da krši prava nastavnika i autonomiju PBF, a time i autonomiju Univerziteta u Beogradu.

1. Sinod Srpske pravoslavne crkve je mimo svih zakonskih ovlašćenja naložio dekanu Pravoslavnog bogoslovskog fakulteta Univerziteta u Beogradu da oduzme pravo dvojici nastavnika ovog fakulteta da na njemu predaju. Episkop Maksim Vasiljević, redovni profesor i docent Marko Vilotić lažno su optuženi da krše Statut Univerziteta u Beogradu.

2. Sinod zloupotrebljava institut običajnog davanja saglasnosti za izbor u nastavnička zvanja predviđen članom 95. Statuta PBF, te proizvoljno tumači i povlači odobrenje nastavnicima, čime narušava radna prava i autonomiju nastavnika koji predaju na Univerzitetu u Beogradu. Nakon odbijanja dekana PBF Ignatija Midića da otpusti pomenute kolege, Sinod je izvršio pritisak na Nastavno naučno veće PBF da pokrene proceduru za smenu dekana. Sednica NNV je zakazana za 12. novembar.

3. Sinod se direktno meša u unutrašnja pitanja fakulteta i univerziteta imenovanjem svojih predstavnika kao „posmatrača i izaslanika na sednicama fakultetskih tela, a među njima i Saveta Fakulteta“, protivno Zakonu o visokom obrazovanju, Statutu Univerziteta i Statutu PBF.

4. Pritisci na kolege sa PBF traju još od istupa grupe od 12 nastavnika i saradnika koji su zajednički potpisanim Stavom ustali protiv Peticije za reviziju izučavanja teorije evolucije u obrazovnom sistemu R. Srbije. Patrijarh Irinej je 20. maja 2017. uputio dekret, koji nikada nije povučen, kojim zabranjuje javne nastupe svim nastavnicima, saradnicima i zaposlenima na PBF bez njegovog prethodnog odobrenja.

Apelujemo na Univerzitet u Beogradu i Ministarstvo prosvete, nauke i tehnološkog razvoja da spreče dalje proganjanje nastavnika i dekana ovog fakulteta. Takođe, tražimo da se rad PBF vrati u okvire regulisane Statutom Univerziteta i Zakonom o visokom obrazovanju i da se iz Statuta PBF ukloni odredba o davanju saglasnosti Sinoda SPC predavačima na fakultetu, koja se koristi za unutar-crkvene obračune kojima ne sme biti mesto unutar Univerziteta.

Peticiju možete potpisati na the following LINK.

The Mass Assembly will be held on Tuesday, November 5 at 4 p.m. The venue is the House of Culture (Krsmanović House), Terazije 34.

In order for the operation of the Mass to be based on democratic foundations and with the inclusion of as wide a circle of academic workers as possible, we invite you to get involved and contribute to the work of the network. In this way, we intend to lay the foundation for the mass's systemic action, which will not only be reactive but also proactive in creating an academic environment. In order to build the capacities of the Mass, it is necessary that all those who have the desire and ambition to improve the academic environment and conditions for their own work actively participate in its work.

At the assembly itself, the steps taken so far to provide capacities for the work of the Mass and support for academic workers will be presented. After the assembly, we will develop concrete action plans for each of the areas together with those who join and start implementing them. The problems we face within the academy are numerous and it is extremely important that as many colleagues as possible attend the assembly.

On the following links you can find:
1. Mass Statute, with principles, goals and planned activities.
2. Mass action plan, that is, the structure of the network that will be the basis for work in the next year.

The initiative board of the Network of Academic Solidarity and Engagement (MASA) supports the Rector of the University of Belgrade Ivanka Popović and the protesting students to find a solution that is in the interest of the entire academic community.

The autonomy of the University was once again called into question by the statements of the President of Serbia, the Prime Minister of Serbia and the highest officials of the ruling party. We invite University authorities, colleagues who support our initiative and everyone who cares about defending the value of academic work and freedom of thought to publicly express solidarity with the Rector and students.

The Prime Minister's statements that the Rector "aligned herself on one political side", as well as the unequivocal rejection of the finance minister's plagiarism by the highest representatives of the government, mean the autonomy of the university and the freedom to independently decide on issues that fall under the exclusive competence of the university. The prime minister has labeled the rector and the students as political opponents, thus publicly choosing to be the prime minister of only part of the citizens who are of her political like-mindedness. Once again, we draw attention to the fact that such actions indicate a deep misunderstanding of the essence of university autonomy and scientific research work. The University of Belgrade is neither a government agency nor a political party, and it is unacceptable for any government to use power and abuse institutions to put pressure on the University and its leadership. Therefore, we strongly condemn the attacks on the rector in the pro-regime media.

We must show that the academic community is not ready to silently observe the endangerment, belittling, blackmailing, intimidation of its representatives and students and the meaningless of scientific work. Freedom of scientific work and guaranteed autonomy in the organization of work and decision-making have been essential values of university activity since the 12th century. Therefore, we consider supporting the Rector and students as an act of defending the university's autonomy and freedom of academic activity, as one of the basic elements of a free and democratic society.

In Belgrade, September 24, 2019.

Initiative Board of the Network of Academic Solidarity and Engagement

Dalibor Petrović

Đorđe Pavićević

Galjina Ognjanov

Gazelle Pudar Drasko

Nenad Makuljević

The network of academic solidarity and engagement, the symbolic acronym MASA, was formed with the aim of strengthening the independence and critical potential of the academic community. This open network will gather all members of the academic community who are ready to engage in strengthening the voice of the profession and science by defending and consistently representing the basic principles and ethical standards of academic work. 

MASA will provide support to members of the academic community who are threatened because of their scientific and artistic work, i.e. public engagement. In addition, MASA will try to further motivate the academic community to independently deal with its own problems and environmental challenges. An important part of the engagement will be directed towards external actors, primarily towards the Government and competent institutions; MASA will point out negative social phenomena and processes and advocate strong participation of the academic community in the formulation of public policies.

The initiative to form the Network was based on the assessment that the academic community, faced with the general collapse of institutions in Serbia, has not yet reacted in the right way, in solidarity and with a strong voice. The absence of a timely and adequate reaction by the University authorities in cases of plagiarized doctorates, which have shaken society for years, is conspicuous. The recent repeated attack on prominent members of the academic community, which comes from the rostrum of the highest representative body - the Assembly of Serbia, and the absence of an appropriate reaction from the academic community, is a good example of how academic institutions are structurally threatened, and its representatives unprotected.

In such conditions, mutual connection and academic solidarity increase the capacity for joint action and participation in proactively solving broader social problems, for which the voice of members of the academic community is necessary and irreplaceable. Placing science and education on a sound and strong foundation is a necessary prerequisite for the successful development of the state and society, and for this joint action and nurturing the credibility of the academic community is necessary.

Almost all the key values of scientific and academic work are threatened. The responsibility for this lies mostly with the state, which fails to provide the prerequisites for dedicated and responsible work. At the same time, academic institutions are under increasing pressure from those who are supposed to guarantee and protect their autonomy. Attempts to influence the research and personnel policy of academic institutions most directly threaten their independence and, in the long term, collapse the scientific community as a whole. The Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory and the Institute of National Importance in Vinča are the latest examples of institutions where personnel solutions are imposed non-transparently and against the will of the majority.

In order to strengthen the academic community and encourage its members, MASA was formed, which symbolically, but also through concrete actions, wants to show that the academic community can and should work in the interest of the entire society.