OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities commends efforts to improve access to higher education in southern Serbia

BELGRADE, 3 March 2010 - The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Knut Vollebaek, welcomed today the completion of a Serbian government-sponsored study on higher education needs in southern Serbia, calling it an important step towards establishing multi-lingual education in the region.

The study on "Establishment of an Institution of Higher Education in South Serbia" was commissioned by the Co-ordination Body of the Government of the Republic of Serbia for the Municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja. It was drafted by two Serbian non-governmental organizations in close co-operation with the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities and lays out a number of options and solutions to address the situation of higher education in southern Serbia. It is envisioned that a multi-ethnic and multi-lingual institution will be established based on a consultative process between the central and local authorities as well as experts in the field of higher education.

"A multi-ethnic higher education institution in the region will ensure that the rights of national minorities in Serbia are protected while also promoting integration of all ethnic groups through education, something that I believe is essential in a multi-ethnic state such as Serbia," Vollebaek said after a meeting in Belgrade of all of the stakeholders.

"Such a multi-lingual institution will guarantee that the needs of all of the local communities will be properly addressed."

The High Commissioner commended the initiative of the Government to undertake the study and to use its findings as the basis for the eventual founding of a higher education institution. He joined the Co-ordination Body in encouraging the Ministry of Education to establish a Task Force which would co-ordinate the implementation process and involve all relevant stakeholders.

"While there have been plenty of interesting ideas put forward in the past on what such a higher education facility could look like, this feasibility study finally provides a blueprint that can turn these ideas into reality," Vollebaek said. "Nonetheless, much hard work lies ahead which will require constant commitment and a concerted effort from all parties involved."

The High Commissioner also announced that he will take part in the public presentation of the feasibility study in Belgrade in April.