Muamer Zukorlic greeted the representatives of private universities saying that the institution’s doors are open to everybody and that he is ready to accept and analyse the proposals of all the relevant participants in Serbia’s education system with great care and interest.

The representatives of private universities outlined their problems which concern the working conditions of private universities in Serbia.

In the ensuing discussion the university representatives said that amendments and modifications of the existing law are not enough and that a completely new Law on Higher Education needs to be passed which would regulate the status of private universities in Serbia. They proposed instituting a co-financing system for students of private universities in the form of scholarships or to set up a system of favourable loans for students who wish to enrol in private universities. They also said that the accreditation system should be equal for state and private universities. They drew attention to the unequal representation of private universities in higher education bodies adding, among other things, that the out of its 21 members the National Council for Higher Education has only one representatives from private universities.

The private university representatives went on to stress that the new law should regulate the minimum working hours for the teaching staff so that the formerly stipulated six hours be raised to nine or ten hours a week, and to 18-20 hours a week for teaching associates.

Deputy Committee Chairman Ljubisa Stojmirovic said that it would be good if private universities draw attention to their students especially winners of international scientific research awards so as to point out the quality and degree of knowledge the students can gain at their universities.

The Committee Chairman said that he agreed with most of the proposals made by the private university representatives and that the Committee would consider them very carefully. He believes that all students should be equal no matter whether they attend state of private universities. Zukorlic added that the Committee will take active part in the improvement of the working conditions at the universities and in the reform of the education system in Serbia.

The delegation of private universities comprised: Dragan Domazet – Metropolitan University, Prof. Dr Aleksandar Andrejevic – Educons University, Dragan Solesa – Business Academy in Novi Sad, Miljana Barjaktarevic – Alfa BK University and Suad Becirevic – University in Novi Pazar.