Croatia proposes extending professor retirement age to 67

The Croatian Government has submitted urgent amendments to the Higher Education and Scientific Activity Act to the Parliament. A key provision allows regular professors, professional study professors, and permanent scientific advisors to work until the age of 67. Previously, employment contracts for these roles typically ended upon reaching retirement age, usually at 65.

The government aims to retain top experts within the system and intends for these changes to take effect during the current academic year. The amendments also introduce stricter limits on leadership roles, stating that an individual who has served two terms as a rector or dean of a public higher education institution cannot be re-elected to the same institution, even after a break.

Additionally, the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth will now require prior consent for the organization of general workplaces at universities to prevent unjustified state budget expenditures. The reform also introduces a new professional rank, ‘advisor lecturer’, to facilitate career advancement for lecturers and senior lecturers.