Students and professors from the Faculty of Technical Sciences, North Mitrovica held a protest on Wednesday to express concern about the future of their institution and its potential integration into Kosovo’s education system.
Holding banners, demonstrators voiced their opposition to policies they believe could disconnect the faculty from Serbia’s educational framework. One of the slogans displayed during the protest read: “According to which system should we breathe?”—reflecting uncertainty among the academic community about the institution’s future.
Concerns Over Legal Changes
Student Luka Pećenković said that the implementation of Kosovo’s Law on Foreigners (Kosovo) could push the university toward integration into Kosovo’s system, raising fears among students and staff.
“The implementation of the Law on Foreigners places us in a process of integrating the university. Do you want to become foreigners in your own city, in your own university?” Pećenković said during the gathering.
He also urged students, professors, and staff to defend the institution and not remain silent in the face of pressure or potential job threats.
Institutional Context
The Faculty of Technical Sciences in North Mitrovica operates as part of a university that functions within Serbia’s education system, despite being located in Kosovo.
Meanwhile, Arben Hajrullahu, Rector of the University of Prishtina, recently stated that the request to free what he described as “occupied property” was made according to Kosovo’s laws and procedures.
Hajrullahu emphasized that the University of Prishtina is committed to bringing all of its facilities and spaces into use, citing the significant need for academic infrastructure.
The situation highlights ongoing tensions regarding education governance and institutional control in northern Kosovo, where parallel systems linked to Serbia continue to operate.
