Nis protests ministry move to strip Philosophy Faculty departments of licences

The rally began with a memorial silence in King Milan Square, opposite the newly designated Faculty of Serbian Studies. Protesters observed 17 minutes of silence for the 16 victims killed in the deadly Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse, and one additional minute for a female student who died in front of the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade.

Students and citizens then marched to the Faculty of Philosophy, where speeches and a public discussion were held.

According to N1’s reporter, one of the central questions raised at the event was: “What is the problem with identity studies?” - a reference to the new Faculty of Serbian Studies’ stated intention to focus exclusively on so-called identity studies.

Associate professor Dusan Aleksic of the Nis Faculty of Philosophy told N1 that the protest was not only about one faculty, but about the future of the entire education system.

“If this goes through, they can do whatever they want, whatever comes to mind,” Aleksic said. “And knowing the actors involved, we know that will not be anything good. They will try to subordinate education to themselves - and we’ve already seen what that looks like.”

He added that the authorities were acting by force and against the law, making it impossible to predict what could happen next.

Students also warned that the creation of the Faculty of Serbian Studies was not a routine administrative decision, but rather a political and institutional splitting of the Faculty of Philosophy.

One student speaker said the transfer of the three departments to the new faculty was being carried out secretly, unlawfully and coercively, arguing that the move threatens not only the affected departments, but the entire faculty and the autonomy of the university.

N1 reported that although the new faculty’s sign has already been placed above its entrance, no classes or student activities are taking place there, and students remain at the Faculty of Philosophy. An appeals process is underway, and the Faculty of Philosophy has already filed formal objections.