Belgrade University replaces Rector

Nemanja Jovanović/Nova.rs

The Belgrade University head who was in office when Finance Minister Sinisa Mali’s doctorate was annulled was replaced on Tuesday by the University Council.

The University Council decided not to keep Rector Ivanka Popovic in place and replaced her with the Dean of the University School of Architecture Vladan Djokic.

Popovic headed Belgrade University since 2018 and a university-level commission reviewed and annulled the doctoral thesis and took away the doctorate of Finance Minister Sinisa Mali causing a scandal which shook up the authorities. Popovic said before the vote that her priority is the quality of the university while Djokic said that his priorities including raising student standards, digitalization and better organization.

The Council meeting was attended by Belgrade Mayor Zoran Radojicic as a voting member of that body.