University of Belgrade ranking drops amid Serbian reforms

Member of Serbia's opposition party SSP, Vladimir Obradović, warned that President Aleksandar Vučić's announced changes to universities aim not only to curtail academic freedom but also to divert public funds toward private interests. He said, "I believe there is another motive – to redirect citizens' money to privileged private interests, owners of private universities and various intermediaries."

Political commentator Uroš Piper highlighted a steep decline in the University of Belgrade's position on the Nature Index, falling from 804th in 2020 to 981st in 2026, a drop of 177 places under rector Vladan Đokić. Piper used the data to illustrate concerns about the direction of Serbia's higher‑education system under current leadership.