Dijana Vican, facing an indictment by the USKOK (the Croatian anti-corruption agency) for abuse of power and bribery, continues to serve as head of the Agency for Science and Higher Education. This follows an indictment related to a case involving Josipa Pleslić.
The indictment alleges Vican, while rector of the University of Zadar, acted against the university's interests by not collecting a bank guarantee of 1.45 million kuna (approximately €190,000) from a construction company, benefiting the company at the university's expense. The indictment, filed in June 2023, remains unconfirmed.
Vican's continued position is attributed to her close ties to Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. She was appointed to her current position twice, once by parliament on the government's proposal and later directly by the government. Plenković's personal praise for Vican and the university highlights a potential conflict of interest and raises questions about accountability.
The article concludes by expressing concern over the lack of accountability within Croatia's higher education system, given Vican's continued role despite the pending indictment. The agency she heads plays a crucial role in overseeing the quality of Croatian universities and scientific institutions.