Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance sent the media a response to the claims we made regarding the introduction of higher education institutions in SPIRI system. It is a good thing that the ministries have announced themselves publicly, because the public has the right to know what is happening with the universities. However, their answer does not explain the essence of the problem, but covers it up with general formulations about efficiency, transparency and European standards.
To make it easier for citizens to understand what we are talking about, let's imagine that your employer tells you: "Your salary has not been reduced, we will even increase it somewhat. We will just not pay it into your account anymore. We will open a sub-account for you within our account, into which we will pay your salary, but it will also receive everything you earn independently from other jobs. You just need to contact us every time you want to pay a bill, fix a fault in the apartment, help a child or fulfill some contractual obligation. We we will consider each of your requests according to the procedure and make the payment. But don't worry, you are still autonomous, and this is just a small, non-essential technical change."
Would you still really be autonomous and have your own salary? Would your financial independence be preserved just because someone claims that your assets have not been formally confiscated? Would your life be simpler or unnecessarily complicated?
The SPIRI system brings more addiction
This is exactly how the ministries are trying to present the introduction of faculties into the SPIRI system. They say that no money is being taken from the faculties, they even point out that some funds have been increased. But the problem is not whether the money was formally confiscated, nor whether it was increased or decreased. The problem is whether the faculties can independently, timely and responsibly use the funds in a way that enables them to realize the obligations for which they exist. If faculties can only send an order to the ministry, and the ministry decides on payment, is it true or false that they have financial autonomy?
The SPIRI system in this form does not bring greater responsibility, but greater dependence. The faculty may have money, but cannot use it when it is necessary for teaching, laboratories, field work, equipment repair, student activities or international projects. In this way, greater order and responsibility are not ensured, but additional administrative procedures and decisions are created that will complicate the functioning of the faculty. SPIRI does not solve any real problems of higher education, but creates new ones. What then is the meaning of such a solution?
Threatened international projects
The claim that international projects are not at risk is especially incorrect. How can faculties sign contracts for participation in international projects if they do not have their own account and cannot guarantee that they will use project funds in a responsible manner? In addition, in many European projects, the institution has to implement the activity first, and receives funds later through reimbursement. If the faculty cannot pre-fund travel, field research, training, or the hiring of associates, it becomes an unreliable partner. Of course, the Ministry did not make a decision that our faculties do not participate in projects, but it created an allegedly "technical" system that practically makes it impossible.
Dependent position of the faculty
That is why the response of the ministries does not offer a meaningful explanation as to how the introduction of faculties into the SPIRI system helps higher education to function better and more efficiently. On the contrary, their answer further confirms our concern that, under the pretext of transparency and efficiency, faculties are being placed in a dependent position in relation to the current government.
Therefore, the academic community advocates for transparency, for own responsibility in spending funds that we receive from citizens or that we generate ourselves, as well as for control by supervisory bodies and inspections. But we do not agree with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance that transparency and accountability are achieved by abolishing the financial autonomy of faculties and confiscating their accounts.
Without real financial autonomy, there is no real autonomy of the university either, the autonomy that is guaranteed by our Constitution and which represents a centuries-old civilizational heritage.
The author is a full professor at the University of Belgrade
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