Rector Zaimović offered Senate members two options for holding an extraordinary Senate session due to the current situation

(Patria) - Rector of the University of Sarajevo Tarik Zaimović sent a letter to the members of the UNSA Senate today, informing them about the request to hold an extraordinary session of the UNSA Senate, which was requested by 13 deans. This request was submitted on December 5th.

This information was confirmed to Patria by several deans, and Rector Zaimović referred to the submitted request and its statements, explaining the procedure prescribed by the Statute of UNSA.

The submitters of the request state that the University does not have an authorized person to sign acts, and they are requesting a Senate session at which an acting rector would be elected.

Rector Zaimović informed the Senate members about the procedure for early dismissal and appointment of an acting rector, stating that it is prescribed by Articles 76 and 77 of the Statute.

Given that the request was submitted by 13 members of the Senate, Zaimović refers to the Statute, which states:

"A reasoned proposal for the dismissal of the rector, due to one or more reasons stated in the law and Article 76 of this Statute, can be submitted to the Senate by: the founder of the University, the Management Board, at least one third of the voting members of the Senate, at least one third of the constituent faculties, based on the decision of the faculty members."

The Statute stipulates that the rector is obliged to convene a session no later than 15 days from the date of receipt, and if they fail to do so, the Management Board is obliged to appoint an acting chairperson of the Senate, who is obliged to convene a Senate session within seven days of their appointment and appoint an acting rector.

Both requests submitted by the 13 deans, for convening an extraordinary session and appointing an acting rector, are not in accordance with the provisions of the Statute, according to Rector Zaimović's letter.

"With full respect for my fellow senators, I believe that the expressed request for an extraordinary Senate session must be returned to legal frameworks. The University Statute does not provide for the possibility for a part of the senators to independently convene a Senate session in the manner expressed in the first request, and it is in direct contradiction with the provisions of the UNSA Statute, and may have unforeseeable consequences for the work of the University," stated Rector Zaimović and proposed two options to the Senate members due to the new situation.

One is to convene an extraordinary session on Monday at 2 PM (as requested by the group of deans), and the other is to hold an extraordinary session on Wednesday, December 18th, after the regular Senate session. Senators have until Monday at 9:30 AM to indicate which option they prefer.

"As rector, I understand the overall gravity of the situation in which the University has been placed by a series of unlawful and unfounded acts, illegal blocking of salary payments, as well as continuous political pressure from the relevant ministry," he stated, but emphasized that the Ministry's actions have been returned to legal frameworks, and the necessary reallocations submitted on November 6, 2024, were ultimately approved, and salaries were sent to employee accounts at the end of the working day.

Rector Zaimović informed the Senate members that an administrative lawsuit has been initiated to annul the decision of the Ministry of Science, Higher Education and Youth of KS, which rejected the University's appeal and confirmed the decision of the educational inspector of KUIP to impose an administrative measure ordering the University of Sarajevo to annul the UNSA Senate's Decision on the election of the rector and the Public Call for the election of the rector.

The legal representative of UNSA will also submit a request for the postponement of the execution of the administrative act on Monday.

The request for scheduling the session was submitted by the deans: Muhamed Brka (Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences), Jasmin Velagić (Faculty of Electrical Engineering), Arzija Pašalić (Faculty of Health Studies), Ifet Mahmutović (Faculty of Sports and Physical Education), Fahir Bečić (Faculty of Pharmacy), Amina Valjevac (Faculty of Medicine), Muhamed Ajanović (Faculty of Dentistry with the Dental Clinical Center), Haris Lulić (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering), Sead Turčalo (Faculty of Political Sciences), Amel Kosovac (Faculty of Transport and Communications), Danijel Maleč (Faculty of Education), Meliha Bašić (Faculty of Economics), and Kenan Šljivo (Faculty of Philosophy).