PRESS RELEASE FROM THE SCIENTIFIC-TEACHING COUNCIL OF THE FACULTY OF PHILOSOPHY
UNIVERSITY OF ZENIKA
Faculty of Philosophy
Scientific and educational council
Based on Article 24 of the Framework Law on Higher Education, Article 7 paragraphs a), c), d), e) and f) and Article 15 of the Law on Higher Education of the Canton of Zenica, and Articles 113 paragraph 2, Article 8 paragraph g), Article 11 and Article 365 paragraph 1 of the Statute of the University of Zenica, the Scientific and Teaching Council of the Faculty of Philosophy, at its regular, twentieth session held on 09.07.2025. unanimously took a position and agreed on the following explanation:
- The extraordinary session of the Scientific and Teaching Council of the Faculty of Philosophy was convened in accordance with Article 113, paragraph 2 of the Statute of the University of Zenica, which allows the Dean to request the Scientific and Teaching Council to take a position on certain issues;
- The conclusions reflecting the views of the NNV of the Faculty of Philosophy, regarding the convening of a Senate session for the election of the Acting Rector, are based exclusively on the application of Article 69, paragraph 8 of the Statute of the University of Zenica and are addressed to the members of the Senate and the scientific and teaching councils that elected representatives in the Senate, in order to appeal to the members of the Senate to request the scheduling of a Senate session in accordance with the Statute;
- The conclusion on informing the public is based on Article 24 of the Framework Law on Higher Education, as well as all other legal and sub-legal acts that ensure transparency and freedom of speech.
EXPLANATION
Regarding the reaction of the Rector of the University of Zenica, Prof. Dr. Jusuf Duraković, to the unanimously adopted Conclusions from the extraordinary session of the Scientific and Teaching Council of the Faculty of Philosophy held on 2 July 2025, we express deep disappointment and concern due to the pronounced tone, questionable legal interpretation, as well as the attempt to stifle the legitimate and well-argued expression of opinion of the largest academic body at the University of Zenica.
We find it unacceptable that the harmonization and presentation of the position of a faculty scientific and educational council on the currently most important issues for the existence and functioning of the University of Zenica – the issue of blocking employees' salaries and denying them their right to health care – is qualified as “anti-constitutional” and “unauthorized action”. Such an assessment reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of the purpose and mission of academic bodies, but also the role of a public university as a space for free thought and responsible social action.
Accordingly, the Scientific and Teaching Council of the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Zenica, at its 20th regular session held on 9 July 2025, considering under item 13 of the agenda the letter Reaction to the Conclusion of the NNV of the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Zenica The Rector of the University of Zenica (No. 01-03-10-3202/25 of 7 July 2025) agrees and unanimously adopts the following conclusions and response:
I Freedom of expression and autonomy of academic bodies
The members of the Scientific and Educational Council of the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Zenica have not and do not agree to be reduced to the bearers of the teaching process, but we insist on being treated as free-thinking academic citizens called upon to react in moments of deep crisis – in which the University of Zenica is undoubtedly currently finding itself. Freedom of thought, expression and public action represent a fundamental value of a democratic society, but also an essential component of academic freedom and autonomy for which, it seems only declaratively, everyone is ardently advocating in this situation. In this spirit, the jointly agreed and unanimously adopted conclusions of the Scientific and Educational Council of the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Zenica represent a call and a non-binding appeal, and in no way a legal-formal act directed towards any other body at the University of Zenica.
II Humanitarian mission and social responsibility
We remind you that the role of the faculties of philosophy, but also of the humanities and social sciences as a whole, is to affirm pluralism, develop critical thought, ethical responsibility and the fight for freedom and dignity of man and community. The mission of our institution, regardless of the fact that it is just one of the organizational units within the University of Zenica, is not and cannot be reduced to narrow administrative or “prescribed” action, but to vigilant reflection and action in moments when the basic principles of justice, equality, professional integrity and workers' rights are threatened. Such a duty does not arise from a mere statutory provision, but from the very meaning of the existence of the university and its public responsibility.
III Scientific and educational councils as a forum for academic responsibility
The Scientific and Educational Council of the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Zenica, as the largest academic body at the University of Zenica, in whose work and decision-making a significant number of employees from other organizational units of the University participate equally, reflects the voice of a significant part of the academic community of the University of Zenica. Insisting on "competences" in a narrow and rigidly observed formal sense, without respecting academic responsibility and the moral obligation to act in the interest of the community, shows a worrying tendency to stifle pluralism of opinion and critical reflection within the University.
IV Pressure on the autonomous academic body
The Rector, as the legal representative, nor any other body of the University of Zenica, have the authority to challenge, influence or limit the work of the scientific and teaching councils of the faculties within the University of Zenica, which are recognized by the Statute as the highest academic bodies of the faculty. Especially when it comes to legitimate, agreed and adopted positions and conclusions of a non-binding nature that are not directed against other bodies of the University of Zenica. We consider any attempt to do so to be inadmissible pressure and a violation of the basic principles of university organization - autonomy, guaranteed academic decentralization within the framework of individual scientific groups and fields, freedom of opinion and freedom of public expression of opinions.
V Publicity and transparency of the work of a public university and its academic bodies
The issue of public speaking and transparency of work at a public university is not and cannot be subject to bureaucratic control. This is a fundamental democratic principle and the basis of academic, but also general freedoms and human rights. The Scientific and Educational Council of the Faculty of Philosophy in Zenica, in accordance with the conclusions of its recently held extraordinary session, unanimously authorized the Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy to coordinate activities aimed at communicating the agreed and unanimously adopted conclusions and positions of the Council with the community. This cannot be interpreted as an act of usurping the powers of the Rector or any other body of the University, but rather represents an act of legitimate, transparent and responsible informing the public in the interest of the common good. The work, decisions, positions and conclusions of the Scientific and Educational Council of the Faculty of Philosophy are not and cannot be a strictly guarded secret from the general public.
We strongly condemn and reject the attempt to delegitimize the right of the academic community to point out a situation that directly threatens its work and existence. Instead of defamation and intimidation, in such circumstances, we expect from the University leadership open dialogue, tolerance of criticism, protection of academic freedoms and the right to express opinions as the highest principles on which higher education is based.
On the other hand, we question and call for questioning the practice of publishing unsigned opinions and statements on the website and other official channels of communication of the University of Zenica, which are presented as the official institutional position of the Public Institution, the University of Zenica, and which have not been previously agreed upon or discussed by any body of the University of Zenica. Our Council was also informed about this practice through the submitted act from the meeting of the deans of half of the faculty organizational units within the University of Zenica.
In the spirit of shared responsibility for the future of the University of Zenica, we call on Prof. Duraković and other relevant University bodies to affirm the principles of democracy, mutual respect and open dialogue. We believe that the Rector's presence at the sessions of the faculty councils, direct communication with members of the academic community and willingness to listen to different, even opposing, opinions would contribute to strengthening trust, mutual understanding and jointly overcoming the challenges that the University of Zenica faces today.
We remind you that without freedom of thought and free action of academic bodies, a public university ceases to be a space of freedom, knowledge, creativity and socially responsible action. In particular, faculties of philosophy, as promoters of humanistic ideals, cannot and will not remain silent on issues of dignity, rights and freedom of the community to which they belong. Accordingly, and with the aim of publicity and transparency, this agreed and unanimously adopted position of the Scientific and Educational Council of the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Zenica will be forwarded to the Rectorate, Senate and scientific and educational councils of other organizational units of the University of Zenica, and will be published on the website of the Faculty of Philosophy.
With respect,
Scientific and educational council
Faculty of Philosophy, University of Zenica
