During yesterday’s meeting with Rector Vladan Đokić and the deans, students of the University of Belgrade were informed that June 9 is the final day for compensatory classes to begin at all faculties if they wish to save the academic year, reports Nova.rs.
According to the deans, they would start with hybrid, online teaching, and later would have to switch to regular classes to finish the year by the end of October and begin the next on November 1.
As Nova portal has learned, around ten faculties will make decisions on classes next week via their Teaching-Scientific Councils, even though the students in blockade do not agree with any form of teaching before their demands are met.
At a certain number of faculties across all universities in Serbia, hybrid, online, or asynchronous teaching is already underway, which students in blockade oppose. It is unclear who is attending these lectures or presentations.
At the University of Belgrade, most faculties are still in a complete shutdown, but, as Nova learns, the teaching-scientific councils of about ten higher education institutions will decide on compensatory classes next week, while a smaller number of administrations will fully comply with the decisions of the students in blockade.
“Let the students decide, then we’ll see what to do with classes. At the meeting, it was stated that if the academic year were to start on June 9 with compensatory classes, we would finish by the end of October, because we need 21 weeks. The new academic year would then, for all students, including freshmen, regularly begin on November 1. At the Rector’s Collegium session, we concluded that June 9 is the ultimate deadline for the year to end in autumn,” explains Voja Radovanović, Dean of the Faculty of Physics at the University of Belgrade, for Nova.rs.
He emphasizes that in the current situation, it is best for faculty administrations to reach an agreement with students before starting any form of compensatory classes.
“It is best for faculties to organize with students. To start, it would certainly be online classes, but it would be best for it to eventually transition to regular classes, primarily for the sake of the students and their education. What the faculties are currently introducing is a hybrid teaching model, which serves as a lifeline for students to save the year. We need to somehow continue with lectures, but also allow students to protest. It is up to them to assess, and we will make decisions about classes with the students, as that is the only correct way. We should not rush, but agree. So far, at all faculties where online teaching has been introduced, there has been no cooperation with students; more precisely, students in blockade have rebelled because they are awaiting the fulfillment of their demands,” explains Radovanović.
Each faculty will make its own decision on the form of teaching within the institution and the agreement between professors and the administration.
“At the meeting, it was said that the method of compensation is specific for each faculty, that everyone decides for themselves, but for most, the last deadline for a decision on compensation is June 9. So, most, if not all, faculties will make decisions on the start of compensatory classes by then. After that, we face other problems: the end of the academic year for active students, the enrollment of a new generation, and the survival of faculties given their current financial situation,” Danimir Mandić, Dean of the Faculty of Teacher Education at the University of Belgrade, tells Nova.rs.
Maja Kovačević, Dean of the Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade, also confirmed to Nova portal that June 9 is the final deadline for compensatory classes.
“The University’s stance is that June 9 is the ultimate deadline for compensatory classes to begin in order for the academic year to be completed by November 1,” Kovačević tells Nova.rs.
However, students do not agree with the idea of compensatory classes before their demands are met, and they view any setting of dates for the start of lectures as state pressure on higher education.
“Setting any deadlines for the start of classes without the consent of students will lead to general unrest. Before making any decisions at the faculties, there should be discussions with students. On one hand, I don’t think the pressure from the Ministry will decrease or disappear if we start online classes, and we should be in solidarity with professors and administrations because we don’t want them to impose a forced administration on us. On the other hand, we want to remain in blockade until our demands are met and elections are called,” a student from one of the University of Belgrade faculties, who asked to remain anonymous, tells Nova.rs.
Wherever online teaching was introduced, there was rebellion.
“The question should be raised whether we are truly protecting the faculty if we start online classes and whether blockades really contribute to the collapse of the faculty, because the pressures will not stop, and the Law on Higher Education concerns us most because of the members of the Working Group who should not be making decisions about faculties because they are not competent to do so,” she emphasizes.
Recall that the meeting between the Rector of the University of Belgrade, the deans of all faculties, and representatives of students in blockade, held yesterday, lasted three hours, and no agreement was reached. Discussions are expected to continue in the coming days. In addition to the leaders of the Belgrade University and all deans, two students from each faculty were also present.
The topic was the “Initiative for the Salvation of the University,” which the rector, vice-rectors, and deans sent to the students on May 21. This was the third meeting between the students and the leaders of the Belgrade University. The deans had previously stated that they did not know what to expect from the meeting but hoped it would be good for both sides because, in fact, they are all on the same side, with the same goal – to save the University of Belgrade.
The Initiative, among other things, emphasizes that the University will continue to support students and blockades, protect them and all employees, and thus defend its autonomy and social role.
It also states that the model for compensatory classes will be adapted to each study program and proposes a combined model that involves blockades alongside a partial return to classes.
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Source: Nova, Photo: Printscreen X