University of Belgrade applications rise despite government campaign

The University of Belgrade has experienced a notable surge in applications, marking a reversal of declining interest over recent years. This increase, with 17,022 high school graduates applying by the end of June, nearly 1,000 more than the previous academic year, comes despite a concerted negative campaign by government officials and pro-government tabloids targeting the university, its professors, and students. Despite demographic challenges and repeated criticism of higher education, the university's vice-rector, Dejan Filipovic, expressed positive surprise at the renewed interest. He noted that the university's global ranking remains strong, placing it within the top two percent of universities worldwide and around 400th on the Shanghai list. Psychologist Ana Mirkovic observed that being a student has become aspirational in Serbia for the first time, with students serving as role models for younger generations who value authenticity. Mirkovic attributes the campaign's failure to its reliance on traditional media, which young people increasingly bypass. Instead, students effectively utilized platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X to champion education and student values. Associate professor Oliver Toskovic from the Faculty of Philosophy believes young people recognized the truth behind the government's narrative. He highlighted that the student movement has positively impacted the reputation of education in Serbia, viewing it as one of the most beneficial outcomes of recent protests.

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for the first time in Serbia, “it has become popular to be a student”.