The Network of Academic Solidarity and Engagement (MASA) makes a public appeal to the University of Belgrade and the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Serbia to help resolve the crisis situation at the Faculty of Teacher Education of the University of Belgrade, recently renamed the Faculty of Teacher Education, on the occasion of the election of the Dean of the Faculty.
Namely, prof. Dr. Danimir Mandić, the current dean is currently in his third consecutive term (first term 2015-2018, second 2018-2020 and the third starting in 2021) and has now run for fourth consecutive term. According to the Law on Higher Education (Art. 64, Paragraph 1), the dean is elected "for three years with the possibility of one consecutive choice", as well as according to the Statute of the University of Belgrade (Article 65, paragraph 3) "for a period of three academic years with the possibility of one re-election". The current dean recently effected the renaming of the faculty, from the Faculty of Education to the Faculty of Teacher Education, which, it seems, is trying to circumvent the Law and the Statute and present his fourth consecutive choice as the first because the faculty is no longer called the same. This behavior is clearly an attempt to manipulate and circumvent legal regulations in order to achieve personal benefit.
In addition, there are indications that the current dean of the Faculty exerted illegal pressure on a potential opponent, that unreasonably and tendentially short deadlines were left for candidacy, although according to the Statute of the Faculty of Teachers, the candidate can submit the necessary documentation no later than 30 days after accepting the candidacy.
All of the above is happening in a situation where, for several years, there have only been electronic meetings of the Teaching and Research Council at the Faculty, despite the requests of the members of the council that at least the session of recording the candidates for the election of the dean be held live (or at least conduct a more transparent vote that is public). Namely, at such sessions, the members express their opinion on the items of the agenda by sending their votes individually by email to the address of the lawyer of the Faculty (they are not visible to other members of the Council). After the time for voting has expired, the lawyer sends everyone a summary of the votes by item on the agenda. Since a year ago, the possibility of sending circular letters to council members has been abolished, which significantly hinders any discussion and any academic dialogue on important issues of the Faculty.
Bearing in mind all of the above, the non-transparent voting, the absence of proper sessions of the Teaching and Research Council, the prevention of discussion and academic dialogue regarding important issues for the Faculty, potential pressures on the opposing candidates and especially the attempt to run for the fourth consecutive term as dean, MASA believes that it is necessary to prevent potentially illegal operations of the Faculty and to enable the members of the Teaching and Research Council to exercise their rights at the same time. That is why we appeal to all relevant authorities, including the University of Belgrade and the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Serbia, to urgently help the Faculty of Teacher Education of the University of Belgrade, i.e. the Faculty of Teacher Education.
