Council of the Faculty of Social Sciences decided to postpone the vote of no confidence in the dean

Today, on 17 August, the council of the Faculty of Social Sciences convened to discuss the rector’s motion to express no confidence in Dean Raul Eamets to dismiss him from the position of dean before the end of his employment contract as professor. As a result of the discussion, the council decided to postpone the vote, as the members need more time and information to take the decision. A secret e-vote will take place on 28 and 29 August, the result of which will be announced on the morning of 30 August. 

The council meeting was chaired by Professor Janno Lahe, Vice Dean for Academic Affairs acting in the capacity of the dean. 17 council members with the right to vote attended the meeting. Rector Toomas Asser introduced his motion to the council, after which Raul Eamets explained his position. 

On Monday, 14 August, Rector Toomas Asser made a motion to the council of the Faculty of Social Sciences to express no confidence in Dean Raul Eamets to dismiss him from the position of dean before the end of his employment contract as professor. 

According to subsection 10 of § 23 of the Statutes of the University of Tartu, the faculty council may express no confidence in the dean if the dean has contravened the law, the university’s statutes or other legislation regulating the activities of the university or is unable to perform the duties of the dean. The motion of no confidence in the dean can be brought to the faculty council by the rector or by at least one third of the members of the faculty council who make a joint declaration to the faculty council. To express no confidence in the dean, a 2/3 majority of the members of faculty council must support the corresponding decision by secret vote. The faculty council comprises 25 members, but in this matter, 24 members have the right to vote. According to the Regulations for Secret Votes, Raul Eamets does not participate in the vote.