Appointment row roils Athens academia

An world predetermination astatine the University of Athens Medical School has ignited controversy, starring the Greek Ministry of Education to bid a ceremonial review. At contented is the enactment of an subordinate prof successful aesculapian genetics – a determination alleged to beryllium riddled with irregularities and questionable practices.

The election’s cardinal quality revolves astir the enactment committee’s composition, which critics accidental included members without expertise straight related to aesculapian genetics. Among them was a prof of pediatric endocrinology, a tract not typically associated with genetics. Meanwhile, accomplished candidates with extended credentials, including a afloat prof from Johns Hopkins University, were overlooked.

The complainant, Associate Professor Christos Giapitzakis, stated successful a ceremonial study to the Ombudsman and the Ministry of Education that the determination undermines meritocracy. The enactment process, helium noted, was compromised by subjective judgments and opaque practices. He further noted that academics with person ties to aesculapian genetics were sidelined from the valuation process.

Documents provided by Giapitzakis suggest that long-standing norms astatine the university were bypassed, with decisions favoring insiders alternatively than the astir qualified candidates. Specifically, helium questioned however committee members were chosen and why transparency standards were not upheld successful assigning evaluators.

In response, Nikolaos Arkadopoulos, the school’s president, dismissed these accusations, declaring the predetermination wholly lawful.

“The claims are baseless. The process followed each ineligible guideline,” Arkadopoulos stated successful comments to Kathimerini.

Nevertheless, a reappraisal led by the Education Ministry, prompted by the Ombudsman’s intervention, is present under way. The Ombudsman noted procedural errors, such arsenic inadequate reasoning down committee subordinate appointments and delays successful providing requested documents to complainants.

Academics person besides voiced their concerns, stating that ignoring top planetary candidates for such a presumption – particularly 1 with credentials from a prestigious instauration similar Johns Hopkins – sends the wrong message.

“This result whitethorn thrust much talent distant from Greece during a clip of terrible encephalon drain,” they told Kathimerini.

The ministry’s findings, expected successful the coming weeks, could effect successful reforms for however world appointments are handled. Until then, the lawsuit continues to formed a shadiness implicit 1 of Greece’s premier aesculapian institutions, prompting heated debates astir fairness and world integrity successful higher education.