Economic Themes (2025) 63 (2) 1, 119-131
Ivana Simić
Abstract: Higher education, as the highest level of formal education, plays a crucial role in the social, economic, cultural, and technological development of a nation. In the context of intense global competition, the quality and competitiveness of universities are increasingly evaluated based on their positions in international university rankings. Although these rankings are often subjected to criticism, their influence on academic, political, and societal perceptions of universities is undeniable. This paper analyzes the positions of the four largest public universities in the Republic of Serbia across several major global university ranking systems. It also identifies the key challenges contributing to the lower rankings of Serbian universities and proposes targeted measures to enhance their international visibility, academic reputation, and overall competitiveness.
Keywords: higher education; Serbian universities; global university rankings; ARWU (Shanghai Ranking); QS World University Rankings; THE World University Rankings; Webometrics Ranking; improvement strategies
SERBIAN UNIVERSITIES IN GLOBAL RANKINGS: CURRENT SITUATION AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT
Ivana Simić
Abstract: Higher education, as the highest level of formal education, plays a crucial role in the social, economic, cultural, and technological development of a nation. In the context of intense global competition, the quality and competitiveness of universities are increasingly evaluated based on their positions in international university rankings. Although these rankings are often subjected to criticism, their influence on academic, political, and societal perceptions of universities is undeniable. This paper analyzes the positions of the four largest public universities in the Republic of Serbia across several major global university ranking systems. It also identifies the key challenges contributing to the lower rankings of Serbian universities and proposes targeted measures to enhance their international visibility, academic reputation, and overall competitiveness.
Keywords: higher education; Serbian universities; global university rankings; ARWU (Shanghai Ranking); QS World University Rankings; THE World University Rankings; Webometrics Ranking; improvement strategies
