Who Is Vladan Đokić

Vladan Đokić is a Serbian architect, urban planner and full professor at the University of Belgrade Faculty of Architecture, who has served as rector of the oldest and largest higher-education institution in Serbia since 1 October 2021. He was born on 20 September 1963 in Belgrade, and over the course of his career he built a reputation as an expert in urban morphology and urban design.

Before becoming rector, Vladan Đokić served as dean of the Faculty of Architecture for three consecutive terms, from 2012 to 2021. He was re-elected rector in May 2024, thereby confirming continuity at the head of the University of Belgrade.

He became especially well known to the wider public during the student protests and faculty blockades that erupted after the tragedy in Novi Sad on 1 November 2024, when he openly sided with the students and the academic community.

Early Life and Childhood

Vladan Đokić was born on 20 September 1963 in Belgrade, then the capital of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. He spent his childhood and youth in the Serbian capital, where he received both his primary and secondary education.

He completed elementary school in Belgrade and then attended the Thirteenth Belgrade Gymnasium. Details about his immediate family and his earliest childhood are not publicly available, so biographies generally list only basic information about his schooling.

Already during his secondary-school days he chose architecture, the field to which he would devote his entire professional career. In 1982 he enrolled at the University of Belgrade Faculty of Architecture.

Education

Vladan Đokić graduated from the University of Belgrade Faculty of Architecture in 1988. As a student, he completed a professional internship at the architectural firm "MM Architectes" in Montreal, Canada, gaining his first international experience in the profession.

He pursued postgraduate studies at the School of Architecture of the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, from 1989 to 1991. There, in 1991, he defended his master's thesis titled "Making Places Whole: The Role of Individual Projects in Creating Urban Spaces".

He defended his doctoral dissertation in 1998 at his home institution, the Faculty of Architecture in Belgrade. The dissertation was titled "The Formation of a Typology of the City Square in the Function of Operationalisation in Planning and Design", and with this defence he earned the title of doctor of technical sciences in the field of architecture and urbanism.

Beginning of His Career

Vladan Đokić began his professional and academic career at the Faculty of Architecture in Belgrade. From April 1992 he worked as a trainee teaching assistant, and in 1994 he was appointed teaching assistant for the course "Urban Environment and Urbanization" at the Department of Urbanism and Spatial Planning.

During his period as a junior associate, he was involved in teaching several courses at that department, including "Urban Environment and Urbanization", "Urban Structure and Zoning", "Urban Functions" and "Urban and Spatial Planning". For six years he also took part in integrated teaching at the Department of Architectural and Urban Planning Design.

Alongside his teaching work, he built practical experience in urban planning. He was engaged as an expert in urban planning on projects run by international organisations, including the UNDP on a project for training staff in municipalities of Southern Serbia (2002–2003), the German organisation GTZ on a project for the reform of the real-estate cadastre (2002–2006), and the FAO on drafting the Land Consolidation Strategy of the Republic of Serbia (2006–2007).

The Academic and Professional Career of Vladan Đokić

Vladan Đokić advanced systematically through the academic ranks at the Faculty of Architecture. In February 1999 he was appointed assistant professor (docent), in 2004 he became associate professor in the field of urbanism and spatial planning, and in 2010 he was appointed full professor at the Department of Urbanism.

In addition to his teaching, he held a number of managerial positions at the faculty. He was head of the Department of Urbanism and Spatial Planning, and from 2006 to 2012 he served as vice dean for research at the Faculty of Architecture. According to media reports, he spent around eighteen years in the faculty's leadership.

Đokić is also the founder and editor-in-chief of the international scientific journal "Serbian Architectural Journal" (SAJ), published since 2009. His professional and scientific interests focus on urban design and planning and on urban morphology, that is, the study of the form and structure of urban spaces.

As a lecturer, he has for many years also been engaged beyond his home institution. He is a visiting professor at the Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering of the University of Banja Luka and at the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Podgorica, and he has also taught at the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Belgrade.

Over many years of mentoring work, he supervised six doctoral dissertations, seven master's theses (magisterium), more than 50 master's theses and more than 150 undergraduate diploma projects. He is a full member of the Academy of Engineering Sciences of Serbia (AINS), and from 2017 to 2021 he was a member of the executive committee of the European Council of Spatial Planners (ECTP-CEU). Since 2017 he has been president of the Serbian Network of Urban Morphology.

Dean of the Faculty of Architecture

Vladan Đokić was first elected dean of the University of Belgrade Faculty of Architecture for the 2012–2015 term, succeeding Professor Vladimir Mako in that position. He was then re-elected twice more, in 2015 and 2018, and served all three terms in full, until 1 October 2021. He was succeeded as dean by the architect Vladimir Lojanica.

As dean, he led the faculty during significant projects and international conferences in the fields of architecture and urbanism.

In 2014 he was appointed to the working group for the expert review of the Draft Spatial Plan for the Special Purpose Area for the development of the Belgrade riverfront, as part of the "Belgrade Waterfront" project. According to BIRN, Đokić did not attend the session at which it was decided that the plan could proceed to the next stage of adoption. His participation in that working group was later occasionally mentioned in public as controversial.

An ethics procedure was also initiated during his term as dean. In 2020, Faculty of Architecture professor Dragana Vasiljević Tomić filed a complaint with the Ethics Committee of the University of Belgrade, claiming that Dean Đokić, with the help of his associates, had obstructed her promotion to full professor by favouring another candidate. The complaint was dismissed in early April 2021.

Vladan Đokić as Rector of the University of Belgrade

Vladan Đokić was elected rector of the University of Belgrade at a session of the University Council held on 25 May 2021, as the 43rd rector of the institution. At the Council he received 23 votes, while the incumbent rector Ivanka Popović received 17. Notably, at the University Senate the majority had backed Popović, so Đokić assumed leadership of the University without a Senate majority. His term began on 1 October 2021, for a period of three years.

His first election was accompanied by controversy. A group of professors accused former education minister Mladen Šarčević of lobbying for Đokić, while BIRN reported procedural irregularities and pressure during the election process. Đokić rejected claims that he was close to the authorities and emphasised that he had never been a member of any political party.

In May 2024 he was re-elected rector, this time as the sole candidate. At the University Council session on 9 May 2024, he was elected unanimously – all 38 members present, out of a total of 41, voted for him. Earlier, at the April Senate session, he had been supported by 51 of the 57 members present. Dejan Filipović, Zorica Vujić, Nebojša Bojović and Vladimir Cvetković were elected vice-rectors; the first three received 35 votes each and Cvetković 34.

During his term, Đokić devoted much of his engagement to the issue of financing higher education and to protecting the autonomy of the university. He was also among the few rectors of state universities whose name did not appear on lists of support for the president of Serbia.

Student Protests and Relations With the Authorities

Vladan Đokić became one of the most prominent public figures during the student protests and faculty blockades that began after the tragedy in Novi Sad on 1 November 2024. On that day, the concrete canopy of the Novi Sad Railway Station collapsed, killing 16 people and injuring several others; the event triggered the largest protest and student activities in Serbia in recent years. Đokić sided with the students from the outset, stating that they had the absolute support of the university and the entire academic community.

Because of that support, government representatives and pro-government media repeatedly tried to discredit him and to accuse him of being behind the protests in order to build his own political career. The president of the National Assembly, Ana Brnabić, accused him of discriminating against some students and of violating the Constitution, while the president of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, spoke negatively about him.

In April 2025, Đokić was summoned for an informational interview at the police, as part of a preliminary investigation into the criminal offence of abuse of office, on the order of the Special Anti-Corruption Department of the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade. After the interview, which lasted about two and a half hours, he stated that he had not committed any criminal offence. The procedure prompted rallies of support from the academic community.

On 31 March 2026, after the police entered the Rectorate building as part of an investigation into the death of a student of the Faculty of Philosophy, Đokić addressed the gathered citizens from the terrace of the Rectorate. In his speech he said: "When the police enter the University, it means it has lost all its arguments. When it seizes receivers and computers instead of answering questions, it means it has no answers." He also added: "But when the rector stands with the students — that is when the police come. That tells you everything you need to know about this government. They are not afraid of crime. They are afraid of education." Many observers described the speech as historic.

In April 2026 he met in Brussels with the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, who after the meeting stated on the X network: "Universities must remain places of critical thinking and open debate, free from any forms of intimidation. I greatly value his commitment to defending the autonomy and dignity of the University of Belgrade." The meeting provoked strong reactions from government representatives in Serbia.

In August 2026, the Government of Serbia dismissed Đokić from his position as a member of the Management Board of the Institute of Architecture and Urban and Spatial Planning of Serbia.

Greatest Achievements

Vladan Đokić's greatest institutional achievement is reaching the head of the University of Belgrade, one of the oldest and most respected educational institutions in the region, and doing so across two consecutive terms. Before that, he was elected dean of the Faculty of Architecture three times, which testifies to the lasting trust of his colleagues.

In scientific terms, he made a significant contribution to the field of urban morphology. His book "Urban Typology: The City Square in Serbia" (2009) won three professional awards and is considered one of the notable works in Serbian literature on urbanism.

Founding and editing the "Serbian Architectural Journal" is also counted among his lasting contributions, as it gave Serbian architectural scholarship an internationally recognisable academic platform.

Private Life

Vladan Đokić very rarely speaks about his private life, which remains out of the public focus. Details about his family are not publicly and reliably documented, so they are not cited in media and encyclopaedic sources.

It is known that he is a long-time sports enthusiast and a supporter of the Red Star football club. From 2017 to 2021 he was a member of the Assembly of that club, representing the University of Belgrade.

He lives and works in Belgrade, where he has spent his entire professional career. In keeping with respect for privacy, other personal details that are not publicly available are not stated here.

Interesting Facts

As a student, Vladan Đokić completed his professional internship abroad, at an architectural firm in Montreal, and he obtained his master's degree in the United States, at the University of Southern California.

He is the author and co-author of several books and textbooks, including "Urban Morphology: The City and the City Square" (2004), "The Capital Belgrade" (2006) and "Urban Typology: The City Square in Serbia" (2009), as well as a number of titles produced in collaboration with the philosopher Petar Bojanić.

He exhibited at major international events, including the 10th International Architecture Exhibition at the Venice Biennale in 2006.

During his term as rector, the University of Belgrade recorded changes in its position on international rankings, which was the subject of public debate, particularly in the context of the blockades and protests.

Awards and Recognitions

Vladan Đokić is the recipient of numerous awards at international architecture and urbanism competitions. According to his biography, he took part in 15 urban-planning and architectural competitions, winning awards and recognitions in 12 of them.

His book "Urban Typology: The City Square in Serbia" won three significant awards: the award of the Ministry of Science and Technological Development for scientific contribution in the field of technical and technological sciences (2009), the "Ranko Radović" award for critical-theoretical texts on architecture, urbanism and the city (2009), and the award of the Salon of Architecture in Novi Sad in the field of publishing (2010).

Election as a full member of the Academy of Engineering Sciences of Serbia represents one of the most important recognitions of his professional and scientific work.

Legacy and Influence

Vladan Đokić's influence is reflected in several areas. As a professor and mentor, he educated generations of architects and urban planners, while as an editor and scholar he contributed to the development of urban morphology as a research discipline in Serbia.

As rector of the University of Belgrade, his name will remain tied to one of the most turbulent periods in the modern history of that institution, marked by student protests, the question of university autonomy and strained relations with the state authorities.

His role in these events is interpreted differently by the public, but it is indisputable that Vladan Đokić has become one of the central figures in debates about the relationship between the state and higher education in Serbia.

Biography - Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Vladan Đokić?

Vladan Đokić is a Serbian architect, urban planner and full professor at the University of Belgrade Faculty of Architecture, who has served as rector of the University of Belgrade since 2021.

When and where was Vladan Đokić born?

He was born on 20 September 1963 in Belgrade, in what was then SFR Yugoslavia.

Where was Vladan Đokić educated?

He completed the Thirteenth Belgrade Gymnasium, graduated and earned his doctorate at the Faculty of Architecture in Belgrade, and obtained his master's degree at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

When did Vladan Đokić become rector of the University of Belgrade?

He was first elected rector on 25 May 2021, and his term began on 1 October 2021. He was re-elected in May 2024.

Whom did Vladan Đokić succeed as rector?

He succeeded Ivanka Popović as rector, defeating her in the University Council vote by 23 to 17.

How many times was Vladan Đokić dean of the Faculty of Architecture?

He was dean of the Faculty of Architecture in Belgrade for three consecutive terms, from 2012 to 2021.

What is Vladan Đokić's scientific field?

His scientific work focuses on urban design and planning and on urban morphology, and he is the editor-in-chief of the "Serbian Architectural Journal".

Why was Vladan Đokić in conflict with the authorities?

He became a target of criticism from the authorities because of his open support for the student protests and faculty blockades that began after the tragedy in Novi Sad in 2024.

Was Vladan Đokić a member of any political party?

According to his own statements, Vladan Đokić has never been a member of any political party.

Is Vladan Đokić connected to the Red Star football club?

Yes, from 2017 to 2021 he was a member of the Assembly of Red Star FC, representing the University of Belgrade.

Conclusion

Vladan Đokić is one of the most influential figures in Serbian higher education, an architect and urban planner who built his career at the Faculty of Architecture and then became rector of the University of Belgrade. His path from student to head of the oldest Serbian higher-education institution has been marked both by his scientific contribution to urban morphology and by a turbulent period of student protests. Regardless of the differing interpretations of his role, Vladan Đokić remains a key figure in contemporary debates about the autonomy of the university in Serbia.