IN.TUNE Governing Board Reaffirms Support for the University of Arts Belgrade

The IN.TUNE Governing Board has adopted a statement expressing strong solidarity with the students, staff, teachers, artists and leadership of the University of Arts Belgrade, a founding member of the alliance, during its meeting on 11 May at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien. The statement expresses deep concern about the current situation affecting the academic community in Serbia, including pressure on universities, violence against academic community members, and actions that challenge academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and the rule of law.

As a European Universities Alliance built on trust, long-term cooperation and shared European values, IN.TUNE underlines that attacks on academic freedom concern not only one institution or one national context, but the wider European cultural, artistic and academic community. The Governing Board also recognised the resilience, courage, professionalism and continued commitment of colleagues and students at the University of Arts Belgrade, whose participation in the alliance remains deeply valued by the entire IN.TUNE community.

Read the full statement. 

IN.TUNE Alliance Statement of Support to the University of Arts in Belgrade

During its meeting on 11 May at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, the Governing Board of the European Universities Alliance IN.TUNE – Innovative Universities for Music and Arts in Europe – reaffirmed its strong solidarity with the students, staff, teachers, artists and leadership of the University of Arts Belgrade, a founding member of the alliance.

The IN.TUNE Governing Board, composed of rectors, institutional leaders and student representatives from higher music and arts education institutions in eight European countries, continues to follow political developments in Serbia with deep concern.

Recent police raids on university buildings, continued violence against the academic community, persistent threats to highly qualified academics at some universities, and extreme measures of financial control are contrary to the core European values of academic freedom, institutional autonomy and the rule of law. These values are fundamental to the trust between IN.TUNE institutions and to the intensive cooperation an European University Alliance seeks to develop. The current environment also seriously impedes educational work and artistic creation.

Attacks on academic freedom in a European country with strong cultural and academic traditions have consequences beyond one institution or national context. They concern the integrity of the wider European cultural, artistic and academic community.

Teachers, students, staff members and institutional leaders across IN.TUNE stand firmly with colleagues and students at the University of Arts Belgrade, whose resilience, courage, professionalism and continued commitment to the alliance are deeply valued.

We call on the Serbian authorities to cease all forms of intimidation, violence and pressure against students, staff and university leadership, and on European institutions and governments to respond clearly and decisively by raising these concerns in political and institutional dialogue with Serbia, by monitoring the protection of academic freedom and university autonomy, and by providing practical solidarity and support to affected students, staff and institutions.