ZAGREB, April 4 (Hina) - The association of European universities "Magna Charta Observatory of Fundamental University Values and Rights" is concerned about possible internal and external threats to the institutional autonomy of
Croatian universities, Zagreb University Chancellor Branko Jeren told reporters on Wednesday. Participants in last week's session of this association, which gathers university chancellors from European countries, said Croatia had to avoid the scheduled legal changes which they said posed a threat to the university's autonomy, Jeren said. The association has called on Croatia's authorities to fully respect the basic principles which require the institutional integrity and autonomy of universities and define the implementation of organisational and financial regulations in line with international standards. The Croatian authorities are also requested to start a new round of ta
ZAGREB, April 4 (Hina) - The association of European universities
"Magna Charta Observatory of Fundamental University Values and
Rights" is concerned about possible internal and external threats
to the institutional autonomy of Croatian universities, Zagreb
University Chancellor Branko Jeren told reporters on Wednesday.
Participants in last week's session of this association, which
gathers university chancellors from European countries, said
Croatia had to avoid the scheduled legal changes which they said
posed a threat to the university's autonomy, Jeren said.
The association has called on Croatia's authorities to fully
respect the basic principles which require the institutional
integrity and autonomy of universities and define the
implementation of organisational and financial regulations in line
with international standards. The Croatian authorities are also
requested to start a new round of talks on university issues with
relevant European institutions and Croatian universities.
According to Jeren, Zagreb University last year sent the
association a report warning about the problems it was facing due to
"the encroachment of the state authorities on the autonomy of
university decision-making, including the issue of the university
budget and enrolment of students."
The Chancellor said the association believed that only those
universities which define their tasks and priorities, make
strategic decisions, sign agreements and give grants on their own
can be called autonomous. Only those universities which are able to
operate as integrated institutions can successfully participate in
the society of knowledge and answer the challenges of creating a
common environment of higher European education, he said.
(hina) sb rml