Professors Illegally Dismissed from Faculty of Medicine, KCUS Not the Only Teaching Base!

SARAJEVO, (Patria) – In the current Law on Higher Education of Sarajevo Canton, Article 94 (Awarding Academic Titles), paragraph 2 states that „a full professor concludes an employment contract for an indefinite period“. In this context, the termination of employment contracts for full professors at the Faculty of Medicine had no legal basis. Although the management of the Faculty of Medicine claimed that the reason was that these professors had terminated their employment at KCUS, which is the teaching base, an analysis of the Law showed this to be illegal conduct. 

Article 151 states that „KCUS is included in the teaching process of organizational units of the University belonging to the group of medical sciences as a teaching base of these organizational units for acquiring practical knowledge and skills of students.“

Nowhere does it state that KCUS is the „only“ teaching base of the faculty from the medical group. According to this interpretation, there is no obstacle for a professor who works, for example, at the General Hospital „Prim.dr. Abdulah Nakaš“ to also be a professor at the Faculty of Medicine. 

Eight respected doctors, six of whom are professors, held a meeting with the rector of UNSA, Rifat Škrijelj, pointing out the illegal conduct of the management of the Faculty of Medicine, as well as the non-execution of court decisions. Prof.dr. Ismet Gavrankapetanović, prof.dr. Kemal Dizdarević, prof.dr. Zelija Velija-Ašimi, prof.dr. Mirza Bišćević, prof.dr. Mirsad Kacila, prof.dr. Jasmina Alajbegović, doc.dr. Nabil Naser and doc.dr. Sanko Pandur pointed out to the rector all the problems they have faced since leaving KCUS, after which their contract at the Faculty of Medicine was terminated. 
Professor Gavrankapetanović told Patria that they also spoke with the rector on behalf of several other disenfranchised colleagues who found themselves in the same situation. They warn about the incorrect application of the law, as well as the blanket application of legal provisions and arbitrary interpretation by the management of the Faculty of Medicine and KCUS.  

The application and interpretation of the law as seen by the managers of the Faculty of Medicine and the Clinical Center of UNSA should be prevented and sanctioned as soon as possible. When, before the adoption of the Law, warnings were issued that it remained incomplete, and in some segments even inapplicable, there was no political will to listen to the academic community. Necessary amendments to the Law are still pending, but it is expected that they could soon be on the agenda of the Assembly of Sarajevo Canton. 

The conduct of individuals from the Faculty of Medicine has already been reported to the Prosecutor's Office of Sarajevo Canton, which is conducting checks. The management of the Faculty of Medicine refused to act in accordance with the Law, decisions of the UNSA Governing Board, the Court, and the competent inspection, thereby knowingly participating in illegal actions and discriminating against full professors whose employment contracts were terminated. 

The Prosecutor's Office of Sarajevo Canton is investigating abuse of position and violation of the law in this case. Multiple criminal complaints have been filed with the same Prosecutor's Office against suspended dean Semra Čavaljuga, for whom space is again being made to be elected as dean.