Serbia

Organisational autonomy: medium low

The appointment of the university’s executive head does not require external validation. The law specifies selection criteria as well as the term of office of the rector. The university decides on the dismissal procedure. Universities must include external members in their board/council, but they are selected and appointed by the ministry. Changes to internal academic structures require ministerial approval. Universities can create legal entities via their faculties.

Financial autonomy: medium low

Universities have no control over the internal allocation of funds, which are distributed by the government as line-item budgets. Universities cannot borrow nor keep surpluses and cannot own buildings. In a mixed model where the majority of students are enrolled in state-funded places, universities may set the level of fees for self-paying students and international students.

Academic autonomy: medium low

Universities do not control student numbers, whether enrolled in state-funded or self-paying places. Admission to Bachelor and Master programmes is co-regulated. Both institutional and programme accreditation are mandatory. Universities do not receive funding for programmes delivered in foreign languages. They can design the content of their academic programmes.

Staffing autonomy: medium low

Universities decide on the recruitment procedures of senior academic staff, but are currently not able to hire administrative staff as part of a national ban on recruitment of public employees in Serbia. Salary bands are set by the ministry. The near-civil servant status of senior academic staff makes dismissals strictly regulated. The law includes provisions for selection committees for the promotion of senior academic staff. For both senior academic and administrative staff, promotions are only possible if a post is available.