Illustration photo – Economist and dean of the Faculty of Economics of the University of Economics Miroslav Ševčík.
Prague – Rector of the University of Economics (VŠE) Petr Dvořák today called on Miroslav Ševčík to resign from the post of dean of the Faculty of Economics of the VŠE. According to Dvořák, Ševčík is harming the university's interests with his behavior. Ševčík told journalists after the meeting with the rector that he would consider submitting his resignation. Dvořák subsequently told the media that he had agreed with Ševčík that the dean would announce his decision to resign by Tuesday, March 14.
Advertisement'; }
“Saturday's action has the effect of harming the interest of the university. (…) I consider the most suitable solution for the dean to resign from his position. And I invited him to do so. He told me that it was something he had to consider . And that's why I wanted him to inform me of his decision by tomorrow morning (Tuesday, March 14),” Dvořák said.
The rector of the University of Economics further said today that the call for resignation is not only the result of Saturday's anti-government demonstration Czechia against poverty, which was called by the Pravo Respekt Odbornost (PRO) party and which Ševčík allegedly participated in. According to the Forum 24 server, Ševčík, an economist and politician who is an expert on the Tricolor movement, took part in an attempt to remove the Ukrainian flag from the National Museum on Saturday. However, the dean rejected this in his statement today.
On Sunday, the university distanced itself from Ševčík's performance at this demonstration and stated that the dean's performance was “out of line” for a long time. Ševčík said that he did not take part in the demonstration, he only accompanied a man who was beaten by the police, and that is why he does not understand the accusations of the management of VŠE.
According to the Law on Universities, the rector can dismiss the dean on his own initiative, but only after the prior statement of the academic senate of the faculty and with the consent of the academic senate of the public university in the event that the dean seriously fails to fulfill his duties or seriously damages the interest of the university or the faculty.< /p>
Students in the Academic Senate of the University of Economics called on Dean Ševčík to resign
The majority of student members of the VŠE academic senate called on Ševčík to resign from the position of dean of the VŠE Faculty of Economics. Student representatives in the self-governing representative body of the university did so today through an open letter addressed to Ševčík. According to them, Ševčík's public appearance is not adequate for the position of dean, as it damages the good name of the university. Students and graduates of VŠE and some academics also joined the challenge.
“(Ševčík's) violation of the rules laid down both in the VŠE Code of Ethics and in the Moral and Ethical Principles of VŠE Managers set by the Rector of the University not only worries us (student senators of the VŠE Academic Senate), but we also consider it unacceptable behavior for a high-ranking academic,” they stated members of the Academic Senate of the University of Economics from among students.
The authors of the call described Ševčík's behavior as “controversial and unethical”. According to them, the actions of the dean of the Faculty of Economics of the University of Economics damage the prestige of the study of students and graduates of the university in the eyes of the public. As of 1:30 p.m. today, in addition to the authors of the open letter, the call for his resignation was signed by six academics, 336 students of the University of Economics, 44 graduates of this university and representatives of the public. on Saturday he allegedly participated in the anti-government demonstration Czechia against poverty, which was called by the Právo Respekt Odbornost (PRO) party and its leader Jindřich Rajchl. After it ended, Ševčík was among those who tried to forcibly break into the National Museum and tear down the Ukrainian flag, according to photos from the Forum 24 server.
For the same economist and politician, Ševčík, who is an expert of the Tricolor movement, was also criticized by the rector of the University of Economics, Petr Dvořák. On Sunday, the university distanced itself from Ševčík's performance at this demonstration and stated that the dean's performance is “out of line” for a long time. Ševčík said that he did not take part in the demonstration, he only accompanied a man who was beaten by the police, and therefore does not understand the accusations of the management of VŠE. The rector of the University of Economics will meet with Ševčík this afternoon, and the school will issue a statement afterwards.
“I declare that I did not want to enter the building of the National Museum or tear down any flags displayed on it. I strongly object to the interpretation of my presence on the steps of the National Museum at the incriminated time with such intentions,” he said today in his statement, which is available to ČTK. He added that he condemns any violence and attack on the National Museum.
According to VŠE spokeswoman Věra Koukalová, the possible possibility of the dean being dismissed by the rector is problematic due to the Higher Education Act. “With some exceptions, the Senate of the Faculty of Economics stands behind its dean, so they will not dismiss him themselves,” said the spokeswoman. According to her, the possible dismissal of the dean by the rector would be against the law on higher education and could lead to legal action.
According to the law on universities, the rector can dismiss the dean on his own initiative, only after the prior opinion of the academic senate of the faculty and with with the consent of the academic senate of a public university in the event that the dean seriously fails to fulfill his duties or seriously damages the interest of the university or the faculty.
