We are following the developments at the Faculty of Philosophy in Niš with deep concern, following the decision of the Government of the Republic of Serbia of November 6, 2025, to establish the Faculty of Serbian Studies. The new faculty was formed through the fragmentation of the Faculty of Philosophy, despite the clearly expressed opposition of the Council of the University of Niš, the Teaching and Research Council, and the Council of the Faculty of Philosophy – which are the only bodies authorized to decide on study programs and the internal organization of this higher education institution.
Such a procedure represents a dangerous precedent and an egregious violation of university autonomy, as the executive power, bypassing both the relevant professional expertise and competent academic bodies, is intervening in the internal structure of a member of the University.
Faculties of Philosophy in Serbia are built upon a tradition nearly two centuries old, which began in 1838 with the founding of the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade. They were conceived as interdisciplinary institutions that unite humanistic, social, and historical sciences, with the task of forming the intellectual elite and advancing fundamental knowledge in these deeply connected fields. We view the dismantling of this foundational concept after 190 years of its successful existence as a severe undermining of the tradition of university education in Serbia, but also as an anti-civilizational act aimed directly against the very idea of education.
The contemporary study of history cannot be separated from the framework of related scientific disciplines, just as the study of a language and literature cannot be divorced from broader philological and comparative studies. This knowledge is universal by its nature, so national history, language, and culture cannot be understood without the broader context in which they arose and with which they were constantly intertwined. Therefore, the separation of these study programs from the integral structure of the Faculty of Philosophy necessarily leads to the impoverishment of students’ knowledge, the narrowing of educational horizons, and the foreclosure of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary scientific approaches.
Especially problematic is the splitting-off of programs that are already accredited at the Faculty of Philosophy and integrated into a unified academic system through a network of mandatory and elective courses. Such a transfer of departments from one established institution to a new one that lacks accreditation at the moment of its founding is unacceptable, violating both the letter and the spirit of the law, and is contrary to the basic principles on which the system of higher education in the Republic of Serbia rests.
Article 72 of the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia guarantees the autonomy of universities, higher education, and scientific institutions, granting them the right to independently regulate their work and organization in accordance with the law. The Law on Higher Education stipulates that the activity of higher education is based, inter alia, upon academic freedoms, autonomy, the unity of teaching and scientific research work, respect for humanistic and democratic values of national and European tradition, valuing cultural heritage, and the prohibition of all forms of discrimination.
Proceeding from these principles, we resolutely raise our voice against the decision of the Government of the Republic of Serbia on the founding of the Faculty of Serbian Studies in Niš, because it was adopted in an illegitimate and legally questionable manner, without considering the positions and opinions of the parent higher education institution and the wider academic community.
The executive power is obligated to act in accordance with the law, the regulatory purpose, and the public interest, and not to intervene contrary to established procedures and the principles of university autonomy. Decisions concerning key components of the education system must not be made without consulting relevant actors, and especially not contrary to the clearly expressed stance of the educational and scientific community. The adoption of manifestly illegitimate decisions, particularly without clear and convincing justification, represents a direct assault on the principle of the rule of law in a democratic society.
The academic community of the University of Belgrade stands in solidarity with its colleagues and students of the Faculty of Philosophy in Niš in the fight for the preservation of the dignity, autonomy, and functional integrity of the higher education system in Serbia.
The Extended Rector’s Collegium of the University of Belgrade