Two hundred professors have signed the initiative to support the state exam. It reads that knowledge is the main driving force in every profession, and therefore they are firmly convinced that the introduction of the state exam in higher education will accomplished the sole purpose for which it is introduced. They say that university autonomy has always been and must remain closely linked to the principle of public accountability of universities in terms of protection and development of the society and the country.
“European trend in terms of the autonomy of universities is that it can be sustained solely through effective mechanisms of economic sustainability, which, in turn, is a category dependent on the values and services that universities deliver the labor market. The draft model for the introduction of the state exam in higher education is not contrary to the Macedonian Constitution and doesn’t infringe constitutionally guaranteed autonomy of the university in any way. With this initiative, we say “no” to business interests, profiteers and manipulations in higher education. We say a big “no” to the purchased diplomas; “no” for grades with cronyism; “no” to unfair competition within and between faculties and universities, and a big “yes” to knowledge and quality in higher education”, reads the letter.