Rector Avdispahić warns Konaković about UNSA Steering Committee obstructions

Rector of the University of Sarajevo, Prof. Dr. Muharem Avdispahić, sent a letter to the Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton, Elmedin Konaković, warning him about obstructions orchestrated by the UNSA Steering Committee, chaired by Mevludin Mekić, reports the BH News Agency Patria.

In the letter obtained by the Patria agency, Avdispahić states that the UNSA Steering Committee removed items from the agenda of the session held on December 29, 2015, which were proposed by the Rector and were very important for the work and development of the University.

Thus, the UNSA Steering Committee did not consider the conclusion of a bilateral agreement worth over 725,000 euros between UNSA and the European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democracy concerning the continuation of the master's program that UNSA has been conducting with the University of Bologna for 15 years.

The item concerning the contract between the Italian Embassy and UNSA, worth 89,665 euros, was removed from the agenda.

We remind you that at that session, Dobrila Govedarica-Nevjestić resigned precisely due to disagreements with the work of the UNSA Steering Committee.

The Chairman of the Steering Committee, Mevludin Mekić, was appointed to that position due to lobbying by individuals from academic and political life in Sarajevo, so no one objected to Mekić also being a professor at the competing University of Vitez in Travnik, which directly violates the Rulebook on the Election and Appointment of the Chairman and Members of the Steering Committee.

On the other hand, Mekić and members of the UNSA Steering Committee even demanded the dismissal of Rector Avdispahić, accusing him of illegal work. However, the proverb "the thief shouts 'catch the thief'" proved true at the session held.

- I believe you are aware of the implications of such a working method of the Steering Committee for the institutional development and functioning of the University - Avdispahić wrote to Prime Minister Konaković.

We remind you that the very appointment of the Chairman and members of the Steering Committee (six members) by the KS Government in December 2013 was accompanied by strong lobbying by certain deans and members of the academic community who, due to their personal ambitions for the position of Rector, were ready to jeopardize the further work and reputation of the University of Sarajevo.

In addition to Mekić, whose interests are clearly directed towards everything except UNSA, the appointment of two other members of the UNSA Steering Committee, Sifet Kukuruz and Azemina Njuhović, is also problematic, as they are employees of the Ministry of Education, Science, and Youth of Sarajevo Canton, which is responsible for overseeing the legality of the University's work.