TFL Vsebine / Revija Revus

V slovenskem ustavnem redu je univerza ustavna kategorija. Temelj za obstoj in delovanje univerz zagotavljajo določbe 57., 58. in 59. člena Ustave. Država je dolžna predvsem zagotavljati financiranje univerz in učinkovito uresničevanje svobode znanosti ter pravice do šolanja in izobraževanja. Četudi je država dolžna zagotavljati financiranje univerz, politika financiranja ne sme krniti avtonomije univerz. Hkrati spremembe financiranja ne smejo biti stvarno neutemeljene, niti sprejete brez predhodne in prepričljive analize vplivov in posledic za izvajanje študijskih programov in razvoj univerz. Tudi ne smejo ustvarjati stvarno neutemeljenih razlik med posameznimi univerzami. Ogroženost študijskih programov zaradi sprememb financiranja ali celo njihovo onemogočenje hkrati pomeni poseg v pravico študentov do šolanja in izobraževanja. Zdi se, da bi bil ustavno pravilen le sistem en bloc (angl. lump-sum; celostnega) financiranja univerz. Ne gre spregledati niti dejstva, da je univerzitetna sfera v Sloveniji prenormirana, s čimer je avtonomija univerz znatno okrnjena.

An autonomuos university is a unique environment of scientific exploration, critical discourse and intelectual development. Because of its autonomy the university has enjoyed great reputation and has been instrumental in defining the cultural, scientific, educational, social and political landscape. Today it seems that the fundations of university's autonomy are undermined. On the one hand, we see increased state interference with university's functioning. The state not only regulates funding, as is its constitutional obligation, but is also sistemically regulating university's organizational, research and human resources policies. Constitutionality of such regulatory policy is legitimately questioned. On the other hand, the autonomous status commits the university to act prudently, rationaly, unarbitrarily. Too often it seems that the university itself abuses its privileged status. Autonomy, of course, does not grant a bianco authorization for unconstitutional behaviour. The article deals primarily with the question of when and why state's funding policy, or its change, can constitute unconstitutional behaviour. The legal status of university as a public institute is also questioned.