Serbian education officials have been dismissed after a heated dispute over the University of Belgrade’s performance in the annual Shanghai ranking, a controversy that opponents describe as the government weaponising the list for political ends.
Ranking drop becomes a political flashpoint
According to Danas, the University of Belgrade’s slip in the Shanghai Global Ranking was framed by senior officials as a failure of the institution’s rector, Dragan Djokić, and of those they labelled “blockers” who allegedly prevented reforms. The newspaper reports that the ranking, long regarded as a benchmark of research output, was invoked by political leaders to rally criticism against the university’s leadership, suggesting that the dip was a "crime" of the rector.
Government’s justification and accusations of politicisation
The Ministry of Science, as quoted by Danas, defended the removal of both the former university president, Božo Bojović, and rector Djokić, asserting that they had "neglected the interests of Serbia" and acted in a "politically motivated" manner. The ministry claimed that the dismissals were part of a broader effort to align academic institutions with national strategic goals, though it offered no concrete evidence of wrongdoing.
Critics, however, argue that the dismissals breach established norms of academic autonomy. They point to a pattern of state interference in university governance, noting that the timing coincided with an upcoming government‑backed evaluation of academic performance tied to the Shanghai ranking.
Public outrage over alleged insults
Adding fuel to the controversy, a separate report by B92 highlighted a public outcry after a prominent politician, Marko Parandilović, allegedly directed a series of “brutal insults” at a private individual who had previously helped preserve the University of Belgrade’s property during a contentious redevelopment plan. The incident, remembered by local citizens, was cited as evidence of a broader climate of hostility toward those supporting the university’s independence.
"The Shanghai ranking has become a political weapon, used to blame the rector and block reformers," the Danas article said.
Opposition lawmakers and university faculty have called for an independent investigation, warning that politicising international rankings could deter foreign collaboration and damage Serbia’s scientific reputation. They also warned that the dismissal of Bojović and Djokić could set a precedent for future governmental overreach in academia.
International observers have noted that similar disputes over rankings have emerged in other Eastern European states, where governments sometimes leverage performance metrics to exert control over higher‑education institutions. No foreign government or ranking body has commented on the Serbian case as of this writing.
The Ministry of Science has announced it will review the university’s governance structure, but has not provided a timetable for restoring the dismissed officials. Meanwhile, student groups have staged symbolic protests, chanting slogans that call for academic freedom and an end to “political weaponry” against education.
