{"id":218408,"date":"2026-09-14T15:29:05","date_gmt":"2026-09-14T13:29:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/?p=218408"},"modified":"2026-09-14T15:29:06","modified_gmt":"2026-09-14T13:29:06","slug":"the-university-of-belgrade-was-born-on-this-day-218-years-ago-dositej-obradovic-laid-the-foundations-of-higher-education-in-serbia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/the-university-of-belgrade-was-born-on-this-day-218-years-ago-dositej-obradovic-laid-the-foundations-of-higher-education-in-serbia\/","title":{"rendered":"THE UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE WAS BORN ON THIS DAY: 218 years ago Dositej Obradovi\u0107 laid the foundations of higher education in Serbia!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On this day, September 13, 1808, the Great School began operating in Belgrade, opened with a ceremonial speech by Dositej Obradovi\u0107.<\/sup> It was the first higher education institution in insurgent Serbia and one of the foundations on which the University of Belgrade would be established almost a century later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Great School was founded during the First Serbian Uprising, at a time when Serbia, in addition to fighting for liberation from the Ottoman Empire, was also facing the need to create its own state institutions and educated people to manage them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dositej Obradovi\u0107, one of the most significant Serbian enlightenments, was particularly responsible for its creation. The school began operating in Belgrade, and among its first students were the sons of prominent insurgent leaders.<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the opening of the school, Dositej told the students that not only their future depended on their education, but also the future of Serbia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Great School of 1808 is not the same as the Great School that later directly preceded today’s University, but the University of Belgrade counts the beginning of its higher education tradition precisely from it. Because of this, September 13 is celebrated as the Day of the University of Belgrade.<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The journey from Dositej’s school to today’s University lasted almost an entire century.<\/sup> Following the development of higher education during the 19th century, with the Law on the University from 1905, the Great School grew into the University of Belgrade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of its most recognizable symbols today is the Captain Mi\u0161a’s Mansion in the center of Belgrade, the seat of the Rectorate.<\/sup> The building was erected by one of the wealthiest Serbs of his time, the merchant and benefactor Mi\u0161a Anastasijevi\u0107, and then donated to his homeland for educational purposes.<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the facade of the building, there is still an inscription today reading “Mi\u0161a Anastasijevi\u0107 to his fatherland,” as a reminder of the time in which education was becoming one of the foundations of the modern Serbian state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

218 years have passed from a small school opened in insurgent Belgrade to the largest and oldest university in Serbia.<\/sup> Today, the University of Belgrade links its tradition precisely to September 13, 1808, and Dositej’s idea that the future of the state is built through education.<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MORE TOPICS:<\/mark><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

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WITH THE MONEY OF CITIZENS WHO HAVE NO WATER: \u010ca\u010dak spent two million on a Breskvica concert, but only around 60 people attended!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NEW BLOW TO EDUCATION: Government preparing a law that will punish everyone \u2013 teachers could lose their licenses, while students could be transferred out of school!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

THE MEDAL SERBIA HAD BEEN WAITING SEVEN YEARS FOR: Marko finishes second at the World Rowing Championships, silver shining like gold!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

HUMAN AND SPORTING GREATNESS: \u0110okovi\u0107 sends powerful words to one of his greatest rivals on his induction into the Hall of Fame! (VIDEO)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

GATHERED IN HONOR OF RATKO MLADI\u0106: Thousands of citizens across cities in Republika Srpska also took to the streets last night to pay tribute to the late general! (PHOTO)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source<\/strong>:<\/strong> Serbian Times Foto:<\/strong> Tanjug\/ Wikipedia<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On this day, September 13, 1808, the Great School began operating in Belgrade, opened with a ceremonial speech by Dositej Obradovi\u0107. It was the first higher education institution in insurgent Serbia and one of the foundations on which the University of Belgrade would be established almost a century later. The Great School was founded during […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2169,"featured_media":218409,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_show_updated_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[5828,2490,14301],"class_list":["post-218408","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-history","tag-dositej-obradovic","tag-studenti","tag-univeritet-u-beogradu","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t