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Serbian academics have condemned the appointment of a staunch opponent to the ongoing student protests as education minister, calling the move a ¡°clear message¡± that the government intends to ¡°bully the academic community into submission¡±.

Dejan Vuk Stankovi?, an associate professor at the University of Belgrade¡¯s Faculty of Teacher Education, was met with protests from the academic community on his first day in the role earlier this week.

A political commentator who has made multiple appearances in pro-government media, Stankovi? has long opposed the student blockades that began last year, and was reportedly the only academic within his faculty to denounce them publicly.

The student-led protest movement in Serbia was sparked by the collapse of a concrete canopy at the Novi Sad railway station last November, which killed 15 people. Thousands have attended public demonstrations decrying government corruption, while students have blockaded university buildings, many with the support of their faculties.

Stankovi? has said that his aim is to end the blockades as quickly as possible so that the universities can fully reopen. He has promised to accelerate discussions with university leaders and listen to all those involved, without infringing on anyone¡¯s rights or the country¡¯s constitution.

But Ivanka Popovi?, former rector of the University of Belgrade, told 51³Ô¹Ï: ¡°The appointment of Mr Stankovi? is a clear message that the government will crack down on the protesters and attempt to suppress the protests.

¡°The academic community does not perceive Mr Stankovi? as an objective mediator in this major crisis and believes that he will not act in the best interests of higher education in Serbia,¡± Popovi? said.

¡°I assume that he will use all means of administrative and financial pressure to bully the academic community into submission,¡± she predicted. ¡°I find that deplorable.¡±

Nevena Bu?evac, an associate professor in the same faculty as Stankovi?, said the new minister ¡°is not regarded as an expert in education or as someone who could bring stability to the system¡±, with his appointment prompting ¡°widespread backlash¡± within the sector.

¡°I am convinced that his appointment is a very harmful decision ¨C not only for higher education but for the entire Serbian education system,¡± Bu?evac continued. Stankovi?¡¯s public statements on the blockades, she said, have been ¡°full of threats and disparagement¡±, offering ¡°no constructive solution for those who support the student blockades¡±.

¡°I fear the situation will become even worse, with more repression directed at the academic community,¡± Bu?evac said. ¡°But we will resist. We have no other choice.¡±

Serbian universities, Popovi? told THE, ¡°are facing many challenges other than the blockades¡±, to which the government has been unresponsive. ¡°Because universities have supported the students, the government sees academia as its opponent.¡±

¡°The government has been steadily trying to take over control of the universities for years. The current government action is just a further step in that direction.¡±

Bu?evac described the relationship between the higher education sector and the Serbian government as ¡°extremely poor¡±, continuing, ¡°The entire academic community ¨C including students, academic staff, deans, the rector and vice-rectors ¨C is facing repressive measures.¡±

¡°Universities have been left without funding, academic staff without salaries, and there are numerous threats and pressures on anyone who supports the blockades,¡± she said. These pressures, she added, ¡°include threats to remove the rector and deans from their positions if they continue to stand with students¡±.

¡°In their public appearances, politicians advocate violence against the academic community and downplay it when it occurs. As a result, there is a deep lack of trust and respect between the two sides, which makes any constructive dialogue nearly impossible.¡±

Both scholars told THE that they expected the blockades to continue, with ongoing support from their faculties. ¡°The students remain determined and are not backing down from their demands,¡± said Bu?evac. ¡°We are all deeply concerned about the future of our universities, but the academic community remains united in supporting the students.¡±

emily.dixon@timeshighereducation.com