Prime Minister Professor Đuro Macut, MD, DSc, and Minister of Education Professor Dejan Vuk Stanković, PhD, held talks today with presidents of academies of applied studies and directors of colleges of applied studies founded by the Republic of Serbia, regarding the organisation of teaching in the new 2025/2026 academic year.
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Talks continue between government representatives, academic community
Belgrade,
1 December 2025
The meeting at the Serbian government building provided an opportunity for the presidents of academies and directors of colleges to inform government representatives about the start of teaching in the new 2025/2026 academic year, as well as about the challenges facing higher applied education in Serbia.
Enrolment policies for applied study programmes implemented by higher education institutions founded by the Republic of Serbia were analysed, with particular attention given to newly established study programmes and dual study model programmes resulting from the reform of applied education and the merger of colleges into academies.
Macut expressed satisfaction that most academies and colleges had commenced the new academic year as early as 1 October, and that the number of students applying for exams in the 2024/2025 academic year was at the level of previous years, while pass rates were satisfactory.
In the discussion dedicated to the development of higher applied education in Serbia, the importance of participation in international projects within the Erasmus+ programme was highlighted.
The need to ensure the recognition of academies and colleges in public calls for the financing of development and research, scientific research and professional, or artistic, projects was also emphasised.
Attention was drawn to the necessity of amending the legislative framework to enable students from applied study programmes to progress to higher levels of study, with the aim of strengthening teaching capacities and supporting the advancement of employees at these institutions.
At the same time, the importance of adopting new norms and standards for the work of higher education institutions founded by the Republic of Serbia, in accordance with the applicable Law on Higher Education, was underlined.
Representatives of academies and colleges of applied studies expressed concerns that the higher education sector is not yet ready to enter the Republic of Serbia’s budget execution system, namely the System for Preparation, Execution, Accounting and Reporting (SPIRI), and noted that additional workshops are required for employees who will operate within this system.
In the coming period, the Prime Minister will continue to hold meetings with representatives of the academic community.
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