The rector of Saint Elizabeth's (Sv. Alžbeta) Health and Social Work University Vladimir Krčméry resigned from his post at the beginning of December, he confirmed to the TASR newsiwre on December 21.
Krčméry claimed that the Education Ministry took unfair steps in connection with the university's accreditation process. He said that the university's documents for the accreditation committee were submitted by Education Minister Jan Mikolaj, although legislation states that these documents should be submitted by the university itself.
According to Krčméry, Mikolaj proposed lowering the classification level of the university to 'professional higher education institute', the lowest university category.
“I can't bear responsibility for either the university or for the students there in such circumstances,” said Krčméry, adding that the ministry violated legislation at least six times during the accreditation process.
Krčméry also criticised the minister for publishing the outcome of an audit at the school before its closure and has objected to the fact that he was the last to learn this information on the fate of the school, from the media.
“I would like to warn our college as well as other private colleges that their fate is determined in advance and that a dirty game is being played; its victims, however, are not the so-called anti-ministry academic functionaries but innocent students,” Krčméry told the SITA newswire.
The academic senate of the university has elected Krčméry's successor, Marián Karvaj. This nomination will now be submitted to the Education Ministry and the President's Office for approval.
St. Elizabeth's University currently has 2,000 regular and 14,000 part-time students. It offers curricula that cannot be pursued at any other universities in Slovakia: tropical public health, mission and charity work and public health system administration. TASR, SITA
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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