University of Belgrade slips in Shanghai Rankings: Government blames blockades, faculty cites neglect

The University of Belgrade has experienced a significant drop in the latest Academic Ranking of World Universities, commonly known as the Shanghai List, falling out of the top 500 global institutions. This marks a decline from its previous standing, prompting debate over the causes of its diminished global academic profile.

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I am sorry that Djokic the politician had to destroy the University of Belgrade just so the citizens of Serbia could see, in black and white, what he and the protesters have done to our society. After these blockaders, not one stone is left standing.

Serbian government officials, including Parliament speaker Ana Brnabic, have pointed fingers at last year's student blockades and the University's Rector, Vladan Djokic. Brnabic stated, "I am sorry that Djokic the politician had to destroy the University of Belgrade just so the citizens of Serbia could see, in black and white, what he and the protesters have done to our society." However, the Shanghai Ranking's methodology focuses on research output and scientific contribution, not teaching quality or student grades, leading many to question the direct impact of student protests on these metrics.

Faculty members, meanwhile, argue that systemic issues like chronic underfunding and restrictive government policies are the primary culprits. Professor Vladimir Obradovicc, currently at Harvard, highlighted the prohibitive costs associated with publishing in reputable journals, noting that "just to cover the processing fees" can cost thousands of euros, funds that are largely unavailable to Serbian researchers. Adding to the challenges, a government decree issued last year slashed the time professors could dedicate to scientific research from twenty hours per week to just five.

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To publish a single paper in an SSCI-indexed journal, you often need two, three, or even several thousand euros just to cover the processing fees. This isn’t a luxury, it’s a reality of modern science. In Serbia, that money simply doesn’t exist. Where are researchers supposed to get it? The funds aren’t there, yet that is exactly what the university is ranked on.

"That decree was a retaliatory move against faculty members who refused to pressure students to end their protests," explained Dusan Veljkovic, a professor at the University of Belgrade School of Chemistry. "The result is that they limited our scientific work to practically one hour a day. It’s a case of reaping what you sow - they used a decree to ban us from working, and now we are seeing the first fruits of that decision."

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That decree was a retaliatory move against faculty members who refused to pressure students to end their protests. The result is that they limited our scientific work to practically one hour a day. It’s a case of reaping what you sow - they used a decree to ban us from working, and now we are seeing the first fruits of that decision.