NEAQA informs the public that the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Serbia has granted approvals to a number of higher education institutions to conduct classes using communication and information systems. This serves as a temporary solution in situations where regular on-site teaching at the institutions’ premises cannot be carried out smoothly.
These approvals were issued based on requests from institutions that submitted a plan for compensating missed classes and a model for implementing distance learning, in compliance with existing accreditation standards. The Ministry acknowledged the efforts of higher education institutions to ensure continuity in the educational process and recommended that, until conditions allow for regular on-site teaching, all capacities and experiences of teaching staff be utilized for conducting distance education.
To clarify the regulatory framework, the Ministry first sought an opinion from the National Council for Higher Education. The Council issued the following conclusion:
“Based on its competencies as outlined in Article 12 of the Law on Higher Education (“Official Gazette RS”, nos. 88/2017, 27/2018 – other law, 73/2018, 67/2019, 6/2020 – other law, 11/2021 – authentic interpretation, 67/2021 – other law, 67/2021, 76/2023, and 19/2025), the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) considers that the implementation of active teaching within courses—where the nature of the content and teaching methodology permit—within study programs traditionally delivered at the institution’s headquarters or its satellite units, in accordance with accreditation and operating licenses, using communication and information systems for the purpose of distance learning during situations where regular teaching cannot proceed at the institution’s headquarters and this is confirmed by the competent state authority, does not constitute distance studies within the meaning of Standard 15, and thus does not require amendments to the existing accreditation of the study program.”
This confirms that the implementation of teaching through communication and information systems under specific circumstances does not constitute a deviation from current accreditation standards.
The higher education institutions granted approval are:
- University of Kragujevac (including its affiliated faculties);
- State University of Novi Pazar;
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš;
- Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Niš;
- Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Novi Sad;
- Faculty of Philosophy, University of Novi Sad;
- Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad;
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad;
- Faculty of Teacher and Preschool Teacher Education, University of Belgrade;
- Faculty of Organizational Sciences, University of Belgrade;
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Belgrade;
- Faculty of Media and Communications, Singidunum University;
- Academy of Vocational Studies Šabac;
- Belgrade Academy of Business and Art Vocational Studies;
- Academy of Vocational Studies Belgrade;
- Polytechnic Academy of Vocational Studies;
- Higher School of Vocational Studies for Educators and Trainers, Subotica;
- Higher Technical School of Vocational Studies in Novi Sad;
- Higher Technical School of Vocational Studies in Subotica;
- Higher School of Vocational Studies “Aviation Academy” (due to closure of the facility undergoing reconstruction).
The official communication from the National Council for Higher Education is available as an attachment to this notice.