ABOUT THE CONFERENCE PROGRAMME SPEAKERS
The 1875 Act on the Appointment of the University of Zagreb Rector, with Special Emphasis on the Contribution of Rectors Appointment from the Catholic Faculty of Theology to the University (1874-1918)
Presentation by Assist. Prof. Ana Biočić, PhD
The aim of the presentation is to expound on the legislative framework connected with the appointment of rectors at the University of Zagreb, taking into account the first Act on the Appointment of Rector at the Royal University of Francis Joseph I in Zagreb, adopted on 26 August 1875, as well as the Austrian university Act of 27 April 1873 relating to the organisation of academic authorities and replacing the hitherto valid Act on the Organisation of Academic Authorities of 30 October 1848. The Act applied to the universities in Graz, Innsbruck, Krakov and Lviv, as referred to by the Directive of the Ministry of Culture and Education. The thesis of the presentation consists of the statement that the Austrian Act of 1873 has a substantial impact on the University of Zagreb. The latter will be established on the basis of a parallel overview of the relevant acts. The Act on the Appointment of Rector at the Royal University of Francis Joseph I in Zagreb prescribed the appointment of the rector through the council of professors (including associate professors) through their embassies that consisted of four members. Each year, a rector from another faculty (component) was appointment, the requirement being that the rector be a full professor, and that the appointment was effected by majority vote. The newly appointed rector had to be confirmed by the Ban (Viceroy), which left room for political pressure. A total of fourteen professors from the Faculty of Theology of the University of Zagreb held the office of the Rector from the founding of the University in 1918 until the fall of the Monarchy in 1918. It is a result of the legal framework that prescribed appointments according to one-year rotations. Therefore, the presentation will endeavour to establish whether the number of rectors from the Faculty of Theology of the University of Zagreb matches with the number of rectors at the University of Vienna appointed from the Catholic Faculty of Theology, having consideration to objective provisions such as the legislative framework as well as the number of components at the University, all in order to prove the similarities in the relevant legal regimes.
Some of the rectors who were professors at the Faculty of Theology gave significant contributions to the development of the University of Zagreb through their own efforts, therefore the University remained under their aegis even following the expiry of their terms as rectors. For example, Josip Pazman, during whose term as the rector the Croatian Mensa Academica society was established, or Feliks Suh, under whose term the University was moved from the Katarina Square to today’s building, which is now being renovated. Furthermore, the Land Government recognised the nostrification of law, philosophy and theology doctorates at faculties outside the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, which represented a significant step for the students and development of the University. At the same time, a chemical laboratory and a pharmaceutical course were established as proof of the scientific development and advancement of the University. With regard to the advancement of the University, it should be noted that, during the term of Juraj Dočkal, the Faculty of Forestry was founded as a part of the Faculty of Philosophy. We surmise that the experience of Antun Bauer, the Archbishop of Zagreb, during his term as the rector of the University of Zagreb, had an impact on his 1918 decision to establish a scholarship foundation for medical students, and to donate land to the University a year later for the development of that faculty.
By way of conclusion, we will examine the thesis that the number of rectors from the Faculty of Theology at the time of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy was a result of the legislation. However, regardless of the above, the rectors – who were also professors at the Faculty of Theology – used their terms considerably for their contribution to the development of the University.
Key words: rector appointment, legislation, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Theology, University of Vienna, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, 19th century
