Professor at the Department of Mathematics of the Faculty of Science (PMF) at the University of Zagreb, Damir Bakić, stated on Saturday that he will no longer run for the rector of the University of Zagreb and asserted that this university, due to its intellectual capacity, must be understood, present, and consulted on all issues of our society.
The day after his opponent, the current rector Damir Boras, was re-elected as rector of the University of Zagreb by a large majority of Senate members, Professor Bakić appeared on the Croatian Radio program “Interview of the Week” and reflected on the recent elections.
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He reiterated that he is not disappointed that he was not elected as rector but is proud of the messages he had the opportunity to send to the academic community, and he is convinced that the content of those messages has awakened hope that the complex problems of our academic community have the potential for quality solutions.
He stated that he will no longer run for rector because he is convinced that now was the time to do so, regardless of the fact that he is, as he emphasized, deeply aware of the responsibility he would have taken on if elected rector in such a complex and demanding situation in which the University of Zagreb finds itself.
The University must become not only an intellectual but also a moral vanguard of society
The Senate is the one that needs to take responsibility at every meeting, but Senate members usually raise their hands without objection for decisions made by the university administration, says Bakić.
He believes that the priority of the University is to correct irregularities in its operations so that the University of Zagreb – the largest, oldest, richest in tradition and achievements, with the most distinguished and prominent scientists who have emerged from our university – can once again become not only an intellectual but also a moral vanguard of Croatian society. Bakić asserted that the University must become this and that it “must be consulted, the University must be understood, perceived as a moral authority, we must be present in public discussions on all issues concerning public life, especially in this rapidly changing time when new topics and challenges arise day by day.”
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He assessed that, unfortunately, “due to the current situation at the University, largely caused by the way the university administration led by Rector Boras has operated, and especially due to his approach, the University is perceived to a very, very small extent as a place that should be consulted for advice, reflections, visions, and positions on all social issues.”
The Senate of the University of Zagreb will be even quieter, the University of Rijeka is heading towards a third-generation university
In response to a journalist’s question about how he ‘sees’ the future work and role of the Senate of the University of Zagreb, Professor Bakić emphasized that he “sees the role of the Senate as even less proud and responsible.” Because, he believes, “the Senate is the one that should take responsibility, be accountable at every meeting, but the Senate has become accustomed to working in a way that lacks discussion, and even less dialogue, Senate members usually raise their hands without objection for decisions made by the university administration.”
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In this regard, Bakić said that it “seems to him that at yesterday’s Senate meeting, a complete ‘ramp’ was raised for the Senate’s action on the principle that members silently carry out the meeting.” As for the continuation of his work in the Senate, he announced, “I will work the same as before and I will not be silent.”
Unlike the University of Zagreb, Bakić is convinced that the University of Rijeka “is heading in the right direction – towards a third-generation university.” In response to a journalist’s remark that he had previously said that “the University of Rijeka is Princeton compared to Zagreb,” he replied that he “said that approximately because it was a little joke, but he truly congratulates the rector of the University of Rijeka, Snježana Prijić Samaržija, and her associates on the direction in which they are leading the university.”
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He explained that by this he means “looking forward, fitting into contemporary global trends, such as establishing an academic council that includes very distinguished Croatian scientists working abroad.”
Curricular reform should have been implemented as a whole; the process was halted for political reasons
When it comes to curricular reform and its implementation, Bakić is convinced that it should have been carried out comprehensively, and he assessed that the Minister of Science and Education, Blaženka Divjak, is trying to implement parts of that reform and continue this significant work with some partial solutions.
However, he asserted that the “project of comprehensive curricular reform was halted not for political reasons, but for purely political reasons, and it has effectively been obstructed from political circles.” Nevertheless, Bakić is convinced, “regardless of the necessary improvements and advancements, as there is no absolutely preserved solution, we must fix things on the go.”
