Six members of the Board of Directors at the University of West Attica have raised concerns regarding the current Rector, Panagiotis Kaldis, citing a failure to properly manage the institution in a letter addressed to Minister of Education, Sophia Zacharaki, published exclusively by protothema.gr.
These members have filed a motion of no confidence against the Rector, and while a hearing on his appeal against the termination of his position is pending before the Council of State, he remains in office, thus binding the institution to his actions or inactions.
As the hearing of his annulment petition is awaited, the majority of internal and external members of the West Attica University Board of Directors (PADA) feel powerless.
In their letter to Minister Zacharaki, the six board members explain why the majority lacks confidence in the Rector. They detail various dysfunctions and irregularities in his administrative conduct.
The members have accused Rector Kaldis of unlawful actions and persistent omissions. Notably, they assert that he has deliberately obstructed processes, inaccurately documented decisions, and failed to ensure the appropriate application of quorum and decision-making rules.
A key issue cited was related to a tender for a property worth around 8 million euros designated for a Tourism Innovation Centre. Allegations of non-transparent procedures were made, and requests to cancel and redo the tender have been left unaddressed. Additionally, inconsistencies arose regarding legal opinions related to the tender cancellation.
These actions undermine the board members’ ability to fulfill their duties and risk the loss of funding for the institution due to Mr. Kaldis’s responsibility.
The tender for cleaning services was also mishandled, with six out of nine board members abstaining from a decision; however, the Rector continued with postings that misrepresented the meeting’s outcomes.
Moreover, the signers of the letter claim that the Rector fosters a hostile environment through threats and indirect coercion, undermining the independence of board members, which contradicts democratic principles essential for effective governance.
The Letter
Honorable Minister,
The Governing Council of the University of West Attica has been significantly undermined by illegal actions and persistent omissions by the Rector. As you are aware, on 31.07.2024, six members of the PADA’s Board of Directors formally submitted a motion of no confidence against Rector Panagiotis Kaldis due to serious violations of Law 4957/2022. This motion was a last resort after his continual disregard for procedures, failure to provide timely information, and negative public statements about the Board.
Despite the pending annulment petition, Mr. Kaldis continues as Rector, following the Council of State’s Suspension Committee ruling.
This report serves to inform you that under Mr. Kaldis’s leadership, serious administrative dysfunctions persist, and he does not hold the confidence of the majority of board members.
Deliberate obstructions from Mr. Kaldis have hindered board operations, including incorrect documentation of decisions and failure to apply basic administrative rules. His actions severely impact the institution’s stability, operations, and reputation.
For example, critical items related to vital decisions have been systematically excluded from the agenda, such as the tender process for purchasing property for a tourism center. Requests regarding tender cancellation, resource reallocation, and legal opinions remain unresolved.
Moreover, the conduct of board meetings is marred by inaccurate minutes and unauthorized postings on the institution’s website, contributing to a lack of transparency and undermining decision validity.
Recent incidents, including the mishandling of a cleaning services tender, resulted in significant disruption and public health risks, ultimately resolved only after an emergency board meeting.
Mr. Kaldis’s management style has led to a loss of crucial funding, notably for the project “ENHANCEMENT AND ENHANCEMENT OF CONNECTION PROCEDURES OF THE UNIVERSITY,” which was revoked due to inaction.
Additionally, he has failed to submit an annual report on his activities as required by law, and development plans from faculty deans have not been forwarded for approval because of his inaction.
Alarming instances of threats and intimidation against board members for expressing their opinions have been noted, further undermining democratic principles.
These practices compromise the university’s functioning, disrupt its operations, and ultimately erode confidence within the academic community.
We felt it necessary to compile and present this report to provide a comprehensive overview of the situation at PADA. We are available for further discussion and to provide additional information.
Wishing you a Happy and Productive New Year filled with health and success in your important work!
Sincerely,
The members of the PADA Management Council
Athena Georgia Alexopoulou
Konstantinos Derdemeezis
Areti Lagiou
Efstathia Papageorgiou
Cleo Sguropoulou
George Sikianakis
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