DEVELOPING SUCCESSFULLY DESPITE CHALLENGES

VLADAN ĐOKIĆ PH.D., RECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE

Developing Successfully

DESPITE CHALLENGES

The vision of the University of Belgrade is to continuously fortify its reputation as a leading educational and scientific research institution of the region, to attract an ever-greater number of students, improve study programmes and reform the system of work. During the previous period, we’ve launched many initiatives aimed at achieving these goals

If we observe a brief overview of the World Bank’s suggestions for Serbia’s further post-covid economic development, one of the fundamental challenges mentioned is the inappropriate supply and demand of skills, i.e., education that isn’t adapted to the needs of the economy. That’s why the first question we posed to Vladan Đokić Ph.D., Rector of the University of Belgrade, was: what, in this regard, can the Education Strategy 2030 change?

“Continuous monitoring of the qualifications framework, alongside analysis and an understanding of what skills and knowledge are essential to cover the needs of the labour market at the national level, certainly represents one of the priority tasks for higher education institutions in Serbia, equally in reaccrediting existing study programmes and developing new ones,” says our interlocutor. “The demand for highly qualified, socially engaged professionals is increasing and changing in line with numerous global challenges. We also see this in the indicators of the European Agenda for Higher Education, which predicts that half of existing occupations and jobs will require high qualifications by 2025, and which recognises the existence of numerous shortcomings in the education process and the skills that are acquired in higher education. In our context, this issue has only become more pronounced and evident under the circumstances of covid, though there are clear pre-existing indicators

MISSION

The University of Belgrade represents the most important academic institution in our country and the region, and our goal is to maintain our leadership position

that additional efforts are required, both in strategic and operational terms, to tailor higher education to the needs of the economy and labour market.”

Our interlocutor notes that this was one of the starting points in the drafting of the Education and Upbringing Strategy until 2030. “However, it is my view that the determinants of the Strategy represent a broader conceptual framework for systemic advancement, and that individual tasks and goals must be established and implemented through specific initiatives and activities. One such initiative is the cooperation in providing support of the Public Administration to higher education institutions in the educational process, formalised by agreement in October last year. This marks an important step in public administration reform, both from the aspect of ensuring students acquire practical skills and from the aspect of achieving a high level of competencies for work in the real world.”

One possibility for improving the existing quality of studies is the introduction of vocational programmes and dual education models. How much interest in following this path exists at colleges?

When it comes to the University of Belgrade, of our more than 320 study programmes at various levels of study, there are currently two existing study programmes of basic vocational studies on offer, as well as three study programmes of specialist vocational studies, which indicates the need for colleges to at least encourage consideration of this type of study programme. The university should nurture academic studies in the classical form, but also deliberate on all possibilities for developing vocational programmes, as well as the dual education model to the extent that it has the capacity for that, to the benefit of the entire society.

How reliant would the Strategy for the Development of Universities be on the need for change in the field of education?

PARTNERSHIP

The key is in partnerships of knowledge, the transfer of knowledge and ensuring an environment for future professionals to acquire practical skills during the period of their studies

AGILITY

Thanks to great experience in the digitalisation process, the University of Belgrade positioned and handled itself very well under the conditions of the pandemic and is successfully implementing its study programmes

Before I mention several key perspectives that can play an important role in changing education, I would like to note that ensuring continuous work on the realisation of longterm strategic goals makes it essential for the University to define – in the form of the Strategy that has not yet been formally established – the directions of its development over a period of at least one decade, while monitoring the fundamental projections of the strategies of the Republic of Serbia and relevant international documents. Considering the very uncertain circumstances, particularly the current situation and the ramifications of the pandemic, the strategic

decisions that will be brought are very important to the long-term development of the University. First and foremost, it is essential when defining the Strategy to respect the University’s established traditional values and identity, through an appreciation for new circumstances in national, regional and international circles. Strategic perspectives in this framework should relate equally to the development of the processes and outcomes of education, the development of digital education and distance/online learning, the establishment and implementation of all-encompassing processes and procedures linked to the improving of human resources, the improving of student standards, the promoting and strengthening of scientific research activities, the encouraging and strengthening of international cooperation, and the advancing and optimising of the organisation of work, in which the primary goal in establishing the Development Strategy is actually finally strengthening the financial security and independence of the University.

You are seeking the return of nationalised property to the University, based on the example of how the assets of religious communities were returned. Are there any individuals who donate to the university today; and who would you expect to be a patron of higher education in Serbia?

During the Interwar period, our University was one of the three richest universities in Europe, with revenues from more than 80 endowments and funds. Our University is now focused on an initiative to resolve the status of assets that were confiscated from the administrations of national institutions and endowments, with the aim of returning

The university should nurture academic studies in the classical form, but also deliberate on all possibilities for developing vocational programmes, as well as the dual education model to the extent that it has the capacity for that, to the benefit of the entire society

property in an institutionalised way. Numerous notable and wealthy Serbs have bequeathed their property to the University of Belgrade, with funding from revenues used to reward students’ professional and scientific works, to help impoverished students and student institutions, award scholarships and cover the university’s general needs, so this issue is significant because it would open new avenues of funding for the academic community. There are also positive examples today, both of individuals and socially responsible companies, but they are not as voluminous as they were during the golden age of Serbian endowment.

Money from endowments and funds used to be used to reward students’ professional and scientific works, to help impoverished students and student institutions. Are those needs today sufficiently addressed through other support instruments? What would it be wise to spend the money of donors on now?