Minister Blames Blockades for University of Belgrade's Drop on Shanghai List; Former Rector Disputes Claim

Minister of Education Dejan Vuk Stanković asserted that disruptions and the actions of a "student-professor list" contributed to the University of Belgrade's decline in the prestigious Shanghai Ranking.

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The academic year 2024/2025 was marked by the evidently harmful consequences of active blockades of the teaching and research process at higher education institutions, as well as the political pattern and actions of the so-called 'student-professor list.'

Stanković described the academic year 2024/2025 as being marred by "evidently harmful consequences" stemming from the active blockades of the teaching and research process at higher education institutions. He also pointed to the political patterns and activities of the so-called "student-professor list" as detrimental factors.

The minister cited a "serious degree of irresponsibility" from the leadership of the University of Belgrade and many of its faculties. According to him, the rector and certain "politically vocal, professionally irresponsible deans" continuously acted "to the detriment of academic life and students' future" under the guise of "supporting student demands."

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We can only note a serious degree of irresponsibility from the leadership of the University of Belgrade and a significant portion of the leaderships of its faculties.

Stanković recalled that instead of lectures, scientific research, and fostering academic curiosity, the university saw "vulgar political activism and politicking, media targeting of dissenters, and deepening divisions among teaching staff and students." He characterized this as evidence of Rector Đokić's practical understanding of autonomy, which led to the "ruin of an institution built over decades" rather than its preservation and development.

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The government is trying to discredit that University.

Conversely, former University of Belgrade Rector Ivanka Popović told FoNet that the government is attempting to discredit the university. She argued that the University's placement in the 501-600 range on the new Shanghai list is not a significant fall but rather normal fluctuation expected for universities in countries with modest science funding. Popović believes the Shanghai Ranking results are being exploited for political confrontation against the University of Belgrade, which is associated with student protests.

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The placement in the 501-600 range on the new Shanghai list is not a significant fall, but rather normal fluctuation that can be expected for universities in countries with modest science funding.