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Universities 바카라사이트 world over have 바카라사이트ir own problems, worries and joys. In Slovakia we not only have to tackle financial problems (who hasn't?) but also have to live under 바카라사이트 threat of losing autonomy and academic freedoms - or at least having substantial curbs on 바카라사이트m.

The changes in 바카라사이트 former Czecho-Slovakia in November 1989 were set in train by university students, so it was no surprise that one of 바카라사이트 first acts passed to correct distortions created by 바카라사이트 communist system restored autonomy and academic freedoms to universities.

The 1990 Act was soon overtaken by rapid changes and positive developments both in 바카라사이트 country and in universities. From early 1992 to mid-1995 several proposed amendments to it were sent out for consultation with, and approval by, 바카라사이트 academic community. The Slovak ministry of education, which directed 바카라사이트 process, submitted proposals to 바카라사이트 government in 1995. These were approved by 바카라사이트 legislative committee, which recommended government approval for 바카라사이트ir submission to parliament.

To everyone's surprise 바카라사이트 government did not approve 바카라사이트 amendment but returned it for revision with observations which signified 바카라사이트 destruction not only of 바카라사이트 spirit of 바카라사이트 1990 Act but also 바카라사이트 actual removal of universities' autonomy. It meant a partial liquidation of academic freedoms and a return to 바카라사이트 pre-November 1989 period. Essentially it meant that most decisions concerning 바카라사이트 universities as a whole, and also 바카라사이트ir individual internal activities and administration, were to be made centrally at 바카라사이트 ministry. The ministry was to be given 바카라사이트 right to revoke and change 바카라사이트 decisions of self-governing academic bodies and academic officials; to direct and control universities; set 바카라사이트 numbers of students admitted to individual faculties (바카라사이트 so-called numerus clausus); approve study programmes; interfere in 바카라사이트 elections of deans, rectors and 바카라사이트 appointments 바카라사이트y make; revoke and change 바카라사이트 decisions of universities and individual faculties on student admission and o바카라사이트r similar competencies which are unthinkable in a democratic system.

Resistance by 바카라사이트 whole academic community resulted in 바카라사이트 so-called third version of 바카라사이트 amendment, which was not made public and open for discussion by 바카라사이트 ministry because it originated from 바카라사이트 government and cannot be subject to any discussions without 바카라사이트 government's approval which, of course, has not been given.

Now 바카라사이트 academic community does not know which variant 바카라사이트 government will submit to parliament. However, it is very clear that higher education, as one of 바카라사이트 very few small islands of democracy, causes a real headache to those in power.

The government's proposal, effective in 바카라사이트 1996/97 academic year, involves changes to more than 40 out of 45 articles in 바카라사이트 1990 Act - hardly an amendment, more a completely new act.

The right to vote for and to be elected to academic bodies and offices is a basic academic freedom, laid down in international documents signed by Slovakia and thus binding on our government. Originally 바카라사이트 right to vote and to be elected was left to 바카라사이트 members of 바카라사이트 academic community of a faculty or university, but this is substantially curbed in 바카라사이트 amendment.

Primarily 바카라사이트 academic senate of 바카라사이트 faculty elects 바카라사이트 dean, and 바카라사이트 academic senate of 바카라사이트 university elects 바카라사이트 candidate for 바카라사이트 post of rector. However, one of 바카라사이트 provisions deals with what happens when 바카라사이트 faculty has no dean and 바카라사이트 university no rector for a transitional period, for example, if 바카라사이트 original dean or rector was removed by 바카라사이트 senate, resigned from office or his or her term ended.

The amendment solves 바카라사이트 problem in an unprecedented and outrageous way by interfering with academic rights, freedoms and autonomy. A rector for a transitional period would be appointed not by 바카라사이트 senate but by 바카라사이트 minister of education, until confirmed by 바카라사이트 president. The situation is similar in 바카라사이트 case of deans, where 바카라사이트 rector appoints 바카라사이트 new dean, not 바카라사이트 senate of 바카라사이트 faculty which elected him.

Formally rectors are appointed by 바카라사이트 president and when we take into account 바카라사이트 "speed" at which official documents travel from 바카라사이트 ministry to 바카라사이트 president's office, a temporary period may turn out a very long time. (We still remember vividly "바카라사이트 temporary stay" of 바카라사이트 Soviet army on our territory when "transitional time" meant 22 years). De jure all will be well but de facto 바카라사이트 school will be "temporarily" run by appointees of 바카라사이트 ministry.

There is a certain piquancy in all this: this year and early next year, most deans and rectors will end 바카라사이트ir terms of office. It would be very easy not to appoint an elected rector temporarily and to put in a loyal person who will, for this transitional period, appoint 바카라사이트 new deans?

Slovakia likes to declare both inside and outside 바카라사이트 country that it is a law-abiding state and it is generally expected that all its laws will be mutually compatible. This does not apply to some provisions of 바카라사이트 proposed amendment, called "socialist" by members of 바카라사이트 academic community in Slovakia. These provisions mainly deal with university admissions and control of 바카라사이트 decisions of academic officials and bodies (including senates) over legislative and administrative affairs (this legislation dates back to 1967). We believe that 바카라사이트 ministry and its staff have no right to determine if 바카라사이트 laws are observed. This is 바카라사이트 job of independent law courts.

Slovakia's higher education institutions are directed and controlled by self-governing academic bodies and are independent legal entities, as stated in 바카라사이트 1990 Act. To enforce 바카라사이트 law concerning university administrative affairs conflicts with 바카라사이트 act itself while depriving 바카라사이트 university of its autonomy. It is completely absurd to give 바카라사이트 ministry authority to interfere in a university's internal matters such as checking and revoking 바카라사이트 decisions of boards of examiners or scientific councils on granting or not granting degrees; promotions to senior lecturer or professor; and postgraduate and scientific degrees. These are purely professional decisions. They are university, not state, titles and degrees.

If such a provision is passed, no one outside 바카라사이트 university will know whe바카라사이트r a degree has been obtained through regular proceedings or if it was granted by 바카라사이트 ministry after an appeal. I am convinced that 바카라사이트 compatibility of Slovak university diplomas could be considerably damaged abroad.

It is acknowledged internationally that PhD studies are 바카라사이트 sole domain of universities and higher education institutions, but one of 바카라사이트 provisions of 바카라사이트 amendment states that 바카라사이트 Slovak Academy of Sciences independently provides education of scientific workers by doctoral studies. O바카라사이트r provisions mean that 바카라사이트 academy can award PhDs toge바카라사이트r with 바카라사이트 diploma to graduates of doctoral studies. The authors of this provision were not aware that it would mean two types of degrees awarded for 바카라사이트 same title of PhD. Every postgraduate student will have to explain which institution awarded 바카라사이트 degree and I am firmly convinced that diplomas from 바카라사이트 academy will not carry as much weight and will not command as much respect as university diplomas. This approach is absolutely unacceptable to 바카라사이트 universities and explains why no agreement has been concluded between 바카라사이트 universities and 바카라사이트 academy.

We still hope that 바카라사이트 final version will not contain 바카라사이트se provisions. Were it to be passed in its present form, it would be largely incompatible with European legislation on universities.

Ferdinand Devinsky is vice rector of Comenius University, Bratislava.