Illegal employment with teaching contracts in university for 18 years without the possession of a recognised diploma

Illegal employment, for 18 years, of a close relative of a professor of a University, who was President of the Institution, without having a recognised diploma, with contracts for teaching and other work in the Institution.

Following a complaint, inspectors of the Regional Department of the National Transparency Authority (NTA) carried out an inspection, for the period 2005 - 2024, in a University of Northern Greece, on the legality of the procedures for the assignment of temporary teaching staff and employment in projects of the Special Account for Research Funds  of the private individual 'K', a close relative of a professor of the Foundation who has held positions of responsibility in the Foundation.

During the inspection, the following were indicated:

• The private individual "K" was illegally employed at the University as temporary teaching staff during the period 2005 - 2017, as he/she did not have a university degree recognised by the Hellenic National Academic Recognition and Information Center (D.O.A.T.A.P.).
• In addition, during the period 2005 - 2020, "K" was illegally employed under contracts for the assignment of projects funded by the Special Account for Research Funds (E.L.K.E.) of the University, for a total amount of 87. 360 €, in which the relative of 'K' was almost exclusively responsible for the scientific aspects of the project, and was involved in the selection, assignment and payment of the project to 'K', in breach of the principle of impartiality of the administrative bodies.
• The assessment of the temporary teacher candidates was carried out by an unauthorized committee.
• The evaluation committee for the teacher candidates drew up an report before the closing date for the submission of applications.
• There was an unjustified increase in the rating of the private individual 'K' by the same evaluation committee and without the submission of new data by 'K'.
• The most successful candidates were excluded on the grounds either of their unavailability on the basis of the timetable, which was not known to the candidates in advance, or of their refusal to undertake teaching work, without any relevant documentation to that end.
• The professor and close relative of the private individual "K" participated in the decisions of the Senate of the Foundation regarding the approval of the assignment of teaching work to his/her relative "K", in violation of the principle of impartiality.
• The private individual "K" was employed illegally without the signing of a teaching contract.
• In cases where there was a contract, it was not posted on the "Diavgeia" portal.
• There are strong indications that 'K' did not actually work under specific project contracts for hire in projects funded by the E.L.K.E. for more than 13 years during the period 2005 - 2023.

In particular, it is mentioned that during the period 2008 - 2011, "K" appears simultaneously to: a) Attend a postgraduate programme abroad, b) provide work for an institution abroad, c) provide work in programmes of the E.L.K.E. and d) provide teaching work at the educational institution, so that the non-actual provision of teaching and other work at the University for these three years is strongly questioned.

Following the above findings, the inspection report was forwarded:

• To the Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sport to be informed of the inspection findings.
• To the competent bodies of the University Institution for disciplinary action against the persons involved.
• To the competent Public Prosecutor's Office for the criminal assessment of the allegations contained therein.
• To the inspected body, with specific proposals regarding the immediate undertaking of all necessary actions to protect the public interest, with the restoration of the principles of equality and meritocracy, as regards the highlighted issues of the illegal acquisition of teaching and other work experience by the private individual "K", the possible revocation of any illegal administrative acts of assignment of teaching and other work and the claim for his/her salaries as unduly paid.