Despite a 200-year tradition, Serbia is facing challenges in its higher education sector - chiefly the adoption of European standards and accession to a common European education system - writes Bojana Milovanovic for the Southeast European Times. In 2003 Serbia signed the Bologna Declaration, a key document endorsed by 46 countries. The agreement envisions establishing a single university space and introducing equal standards for instruction and grading in European countries. This will allow disparate degrees to be valued on equal footing in the European labour market.

The Government proposes the establishment of 3 800 new student places at universities and university colleges as of fall 2009. In addition, the Government also increases the funding for the higher education institutions with 80 million kroner. The measures are part of the Revised National Budget. Increased capacity in higher education is a central priority for the Ministry of Research and Higher Education. In addition to more places in higher education, the Government proposes to increase grants to post-secondary vocational education by 20 million kroner, which gives room for 400-450 new places.