A group of academics operating under the name Proaktiv at the University of Pristina, headquartered in North Mitrovica, has issued a stark public warning about what it describes as a decade-long process of systematic dismantling of the institution, allegedly intensified following the 2013 Brussels Agreement.
In a strongly-worded statement, the group accuses the Serbian Office for Kosovo and Metohija and the Ministry of Education of exerting political pressure to erode the university’s autonomy, citing a series of measures they claim are leading toward its gradual shutdown.
Among their allegations are the imposition of so-called „temporary measures,“ silence and inaction from the university leadership, unlawful use of university premises by the Serb List party, and controversial personnel appointments — including a current minister of information and members of the national broadcasting regulator (REM) — which they argue were politically engineered.
“Institution of National Importance Under Threat”
Proaktiv describes the University of Pristina — which relocated to North Kosovo after the 1999 conflict — as an institution of national significance, once regarded as a pillar of Serbian cultural and educational presence in the region. The group asserts that the university’s leadership in recent years has failed to defend its identity and autonomy, unlike during past crises when faculty and rectors took a principled stand.
“In the not-so-distant past,” the statement reads, “the university stood as a bastion of Serbian survival and identity in Kosovo and Metohija, thanks to the unwavering commitment of its faculty leadership.”
As a response to the Brussels Agreement, which transferred many administrative functions from Serbian to Kosovo institutions, a Committee for the Protection of the University was formed in 2013 to maintain the school’s integration within the Serbian educational and legal framework.
Pushback Against Government “Reform”
The group details a specific 2016 episode, when Serbia’s Ministry of Education, allegedly under the influence of then-acting Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Đurić, informed the university of a planned status change. University organs reportedly rejected the proposal outright.
“This was the first attempt at a systemic experiment in de-autonomizing a public university — a pilot model for transforming all state universities in Serbia,” Proaktiv claims.
In 2017, the Committee again warned of “temporary measures” from the Serbian government, suggesting they were a covert attempt to erode the university’s autonomy.
The rector at the time, they say, appealed to government officials to end the “manufactured crises” and emphasized the need for stability in the region.
Proaktiv adds that records of these correspondences remain publicly accessible via staff emails.
Leadership Silence, Academic Passivity
According to Proaktiv, the post-2017 period marked a turning point, with university leadership allegedly becoming increasingly passive. They argue that while Kosovo institutions have integrated most sectors under their legal jurisdiction since 2013, education and healthcare remain exceptions — and are now being labeled as “parallel structures” by Kosovo authorities.
“The university operates under severe security and political constraints, with its existence under constant threat. The academic community is now a silent observer, waiting for decisions from above,” the statement continues. It further alleges that the university’s leadership only speaks out “in accordance with instructions from state organs controlled by ruling parties and the Serb List, which has occupied university premises for political promotion since 2014.”
Disowning Politically Appointed Personnel
Proaktiv distances itself from all political appointments drawn from university ranks, listing figures such as the current Minister of Information, members of REM, and parliamentary committee heads as examples of what they call institutional abuse.
“These appointments were orchestrated by the ruling party in coordination with a narrow leadership circle at the university, and they deeply damage its reputation,” the group warns.
They conclude their statement by calling for a “dignified and honorable defense of the university’s integrity and future,” framing the institution as essential to the continued presence of the Serbian community in Kosovo.
KoSSev will also publish the full unabridged version of Proaktiv’s statement.
It has also submitted formal inquiries to the Office for Kosovo, the university’s rectorate, and the Ministry of Education, requesting an official response to the group’s claims.
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
