SERBIA

RECTOR DJOKIC: University endured occupation, two world wars, states of emergency, but never such systemic collapse!

by Serbian Times6. June 2025.6. June 2025.

The Rector of the University of Belgrade, Vladan Đokić, stated today that the institution is ready for the enrollment of a new generation of freshmen, but cannot announce the competition until the Serbian Government determines the number of state-funded places. He added that this year the state is delaying this decision and is imposing conditions on the academic community.

In an interview for the new issue of Nedeljnik, he said that government representatives are communicating through the media that they will make a decision only after the second semester at the faculties is completed and examination periods are held.

“Such conditioning is contrary to regulations, illogical, and malicious. The enrollment of a new generation of freshmen does not depend on the completion of the semester of the previous academic year in which they finished their secondary education. It is obvious that the University of Belgrade is deliberately being kept in an unenviable position compared to other state and private higher education institutions,” the rector stated.

He also said that he is convinced that professors, together with students, will preserve the university’s reputation, without a lost academic year and with developed trust.

“The university has endured occupation, two world wars, states of emergency, but it has never been exposed to such systemic collapse from the authorities in its own country. We are not being led to defeat by the ongoing teaching, but by disunity, divisions, and conflicts that the government openly wishes for, creates, and deepens,” Đokić said.

According to him, the university offered guidelines for joint activities aimed at overcoming the crisis, but this is not a final proposal, and there is room for harmonization as each faculty is specific.

“Due to understanding the diversity of conditions and forms of teaching processes and respecting the autonomy of teachers and higher education institutions, we sent this internal document to students and all faculties for consideration. Also, the conditions under which the academic year can be completed have been considered, and the deadline for completion is October 31,” the rector stated.

He added that the university will remain engaged and with the students regardless of whether some form of teaching is introduced.