Category: News

On the occasion of the "Fourth call for talented young researchers - students of doctoral academic studies for involvement in scientific research work in accredited scientific research organizations (hereinafter referred to as NIO)", published on November 23, 2020, the Network of Academic Solidarity and Engagement (Masa) requests a reformulation of the conditions of this invites:

1. That the right to submit an application has the right to young researchers who have enrolled for the first time in the first year of doctoral academic studies for the academic year 2020/2021;

So young researchers who are full-time doctoral students under the age of 30 have the right to apply, taking into account the argument of introducing affirmative measures for young people in accordance with the National Youth Strategy 2015-2025.

REASONING

The network of academic solidarity and engagement recognizes the necessary condition defined in this way as discriminatory, since it eliminates the possibility of applying to other younger researchers who meet the other conditions of the competition, primarily the condition of regular studies, high average grades in doctoral studies and other results relevant to scientific research work. Doctoral students in their higher years of study continuously demonstrate their commitment to science through academic publications and participation in scientific meetings, and in this sense represent the valuable intellectual capital of our country.

Massa strongly supports the purpose of this public call, which envisages the inclusion of younger and talented students of doctoral academic studies in scientific research work in accredited NIOs. We believe that it is in the interest of all NIOs that accepted candidates have the best possible qualifications for high-quality scientific and research work. Therefore, we point out that the criteria set in this way cannot adequately determine the professional contribution of future candidates to scientific research work in the Republic of Serbia, because only those candidates who are in the current academic year 2020/2021 are taken into account. enrolled in doctoral academic studies - therefore just less than two months after enrolling in the largest number of faculties in the country.

This call practically excludes all those younger researchers who have published in relevant scientific journals, presented papers at conferences in the country and abroad, or otherwise made notable and measurable contributions to the academic community. The average grade at undergraduate and master's studies may be relevant, but we consider it not a sufficient indicator for determining the quality and achievements of candidates for scientific research work.

Finally, we emphasize that the Network of Academic Solidarity and Engagement fully supports the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development in order to provide the opportunity for talented younger researchers to continue their careers in accredited NIOs in the country for the fourth year in a row. However, precisely in order to find the best candidates for inclusion in scientific research work and the domestic academic community as a whole, we request the Ministry to open space for fair competition and the selection of the best candidates based on scientific research results, and in accordance with good European practices.

The letter with the above content was sent to the ministry on 10.12.2020.

In recent years, the government led by party and state president Aleksandar Vučić unscrupulously attacks every form of protest and pointing out the factual situation in society, especially if it is directed by academic citizens. This manner, unfortunately, has become even more pronounced with the corona epidemic, where neither the place nor the time is chosen, nor the words for brutal insults. It can be a conference of the Crisis Staff, a parliamentary speaker, diplomatic visits, the United Nations, between two bites, and a whole series of other staged performances.
Doctors have inhuman working conditions, during the corona epidemic, and on top of that, the president of the country does not hesitate to respond to them brutally when someone points it out publicly. This paradox of ignoring the threat of the medical profession is only a projection of the continuous usurpation of the Crisis Staff and the contradictory statements of its professional members. In a demonstrative campaign, between tanks, the president shamefully called out anesthesiologist Dr. Rade Panić, from the "red zone" of the Kovid hospital, who pointed out the desperation of the health system and the critical situation of patients. This kind of contempt and insult to Dr. Panić, who speaks on behalf of doctors who give the maximum of themselves and their health to help the sick, is completely unacceptable. Manipulation of information does not stop. While in July we had full Covid hospitals in Serbia, with officially 400-500 positive tests per day, now those same Covid hospitals are full with 5000-7000 positives per day, not to mention the deaths. Let's not forget that many doctors and medical personnel sacrificed their lives while the president of the country was running the pre-election and post-election campaign without taking any epidemiological measures. The Network of Academic Solidarity and Engagement (MASA) asks the President to refrain from commenting on the work of those who are in the front lines of the fight against the virus, as well as to publicly apologize to Dr. Panić and all the doctors whom he insulted and belittled in this way, their dedicated and professional work in the prolonged extraordinary circumstances.

MASA provides full support to our colleague Dr. Živko Ćurčić, who was illegally dismissed by the decision of the director of the Institute for Crop and Vegetable Agriculture, Dr. Svetlana Balešević Tubić.

Dr. Živko Ćurčić has been working on research related to sugar beet at the Institute for 13 years, and for the last 4 years he has been trying to save it from being completely shut down. If he loses this battle, by all accounts, a large part of the unique genetic resources in the Institute's collection will also be irretrievably lost.

When it comes to the alleged offense for which colleague Ćurčić was fired, we fully agree with the opinion of the Science Union, submitted to the Institute, which states that colleague Ćurčić did not violate his work obligations with his statements. According to the Law on Science and Research, scientific work is based on the publicity of its activities, and it is completely incomprehensible that a state institute, which was founded under the Law on Public Services, can use its employee's statement about endangered research as a basis for dismissal.

Every day and at every step, we are faced with the dramatic consequences of the increasingly widespread practice that in our state institutions, instead of knowledge, a diploma, even if it is a fake one, is more valued, obedience instead of expertise, and mediocrity instead of integrity. The price for this is paid not only by courageous scientists like Dr. Ćuričić and their families, but also by all citizens of Serbia. MASA believes that it is high time to stop the increasingly frequent persecution of scientists in this country, because otherwise we will have no choice but to call on all our colleagues to stand up in defense of the dignity of the scientific community in Serbia.

The Network of Academic Solidarity and Engagement (MASA) presents the online edition of a publication that deals with the process of accreditation of higher education institutions and study programs in the Republic of Serbia, authored by Marija Stefanović and Sonja Kuzmančev Stanojević. The increase in interest in this topic arises primarily after the report of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) and the exclusion of the National Body for Accreditation and Quality Control from full membership. Since the professional public appealed to the problems in the accreditation process even before the ENQA report itself, MASA joins the appeal, among other things, through a detailed analysis of the accreditation procedure covered in this study.

The Network for Academic Solidarity and Engagement (MASA) presents an online edition of a publication that analyzes norms, practices and the lack of advancement to higher education. at universities in the Republic of Serbia, created on the basis of Boban Stojanović's research during the summer of 2020. The conversation on this topic has already been largely initiated within the academic community, and now you can refer in detail to the content of the study, which is the basis for further MASE activities in this area .

Mass strongly condemns the attack on our member and colleague assistant professor Dink Gruhonjić, editor-in-chief of the Vojvodina Research and Analytical Center (VOICE). Extremist groups that are the organizers of this shameful act are apparently operating unhindered in Serbia, spreading an atmosphere of fear with verbal threats and endangering the safety of political dissenters. We see the attack on colleague Gruhonjić as an attack on the right to free opinion and express one's views and beliefs, either through academic work or through journalistic texts.

 We appeal to the general public, to the citizens of Novi Sad, Dink's neighbors, as well as the citizens of all of Serbia to become active and not allow extreme groups to rule our lives with their intimidation. We request the competent authorities to urgently take adequate measures in order to prevent threatening acts that cause incalculable damage to the entire society.    

TIME: Wednesday, 18.11.2020. in 12:00

Link to participate in the discussion

The Network of Academic Solidarity and Engagement (MASA) invites you to a panel discussion regarding the report of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) and the exclusion of the National Body for Credit and Quality Control from full membership. The ENQA report drew attention to the problems in the process of accreditation of higher education institutions in Serbia, which the professional public drew attention to before, but they did not receive more attention until the publication of this report.
The Serbian public has been discussing a lot about the possible consequences that the suspension will have on students, faculties and higher education as a whole. MASA would like to draw attention to the aspects of this report that burden the ongoing process of accreditation of higher education programs, represent a risk for the impartiality of the accreditation process and threaten the achieved international status of universities in Serbia and their students in the long term.

We will discuss the following topics:

1. Legal solutions that enable the direct interference of the RS Government and the relevant minister in the work of the highest bodies that regulate higher education in Serbia: the National Body for Accreditation and Quality Control and the National Council for Higher Education
2. Deficiencies in the quality control process, as insisted on by the ENQA report, which allow the accreditation of institutions that fictitiously meet the accreditation requirements or run programs that are not in accordance with the obtained accreditation.
3. The role of the National Council for Higher Education in the accreditation process, which in the appeal process can provide accreditation to institutions that do not meet the requirements or, by delaying the process, enable the implementation of programs rejected by NAT.
4. Last but not least, the imposition of high costs on higher education institutions in the accreditation process favoring commercially viable programs that often lead to collapsing standards and degree inflation.

Participant(s):
- Prof. Jelena Kočović, full professor at the Faculty of Economics, University of Belgrade, director of the National Body for Accreditation and Quality Control in Higher Education.
- Prof. Nebojša Janićijević, full professor at the Faculty of Economics, University of Belgrade, member of the Commission for Accreditation and Quality Control in the period from 2006 to 2013.
- Prof. Marko Simendić, associate professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Belgrade.
- Moderator: assistant professor Oliver Tošković, assistant professor at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade.

To the public call for an analysis of the norms and practices of accreditation of higher education institutions and study programs in the Republic of Serbia, three applications were received within the given deadline: Biljana Maluckov, Sonja Kuzmančev and Boban Stojanović. No person applied for the competition for the analysis of standards and the accreditation procedure of higher education institutions.

On May 18, 2020, the coordinating committee of the Network of Academic Solidarity and Engagement (MASA) considered all the applications received and determined that two applications were complete, that is, they contained a study plan proposal. The KO unanimously chose Boban Stojanović's proposal as the most methodologically grounded and comprehensive presentation of problems in advancement, which best meets the requirements of the competition. 

Also, the Coordination Board decided that Sonja Kuzmanchev, who submitted the second proper application, should offer to be the author of the second accreditation study.

Both studies should provide an initial insight into the situation in the mentioned two areas, and after their presentation, MASA will initiate a broad consultative process with representatives of the academic community.

Attached are all three applications received for the above-mentioned public invitation.