President Vucic: Serbia to grant citizenship to foreign students who wish to stay here after university

Photo: Tanjug Live/Printscreen

President Aleksandar Vucic announced this Wednesday that the Republic of Serbia will provide foreigners attending universities in our country with an opportunity to acquire Serbian citizenship, in order to make it easier for them to stay and work in Serbia after completing their studies.

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"I will do my best to enable those who have studied for many years, especially those who have done that successfully, not only residence permits here in Serbia, but also citizenships, so they can live here. I will do my very best to make that their free choice. We have nothing against you (foreign students) returning to your countries, but Serbia is also your country as you have spent a significant amount of time here," Vucic said in response to students from African countries, who expressed their desire to stay in Serbia after completing their studies.

Vucic made the remarks during a ceremony to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the World in Serbia program, held at the Palace of Serbia in Belgrade. The president noted that their knowledge is a resource that the state would also like to keep here.

"We want your knowledge, your work and your work ethic. We will solve this technically and legally," said Vucic and added that this will be implemented as soon as possible.

He advised the students from Africa and Asia to strive to work hard.

"In the world of successful people, we will soon be working an hour longer than we did before. In the previous decades, everyone around the world wanted to work less and earn more. It's a natural human desire, but we have to think about how to work more in order to be able to keep up with the most developed countries, how to raise productivity," said Vucic.

The World in Serbia program grants scholarships to foreign students wishing to learn the Serbian language and study at higher education institutions founded by the Republic of Serbia - namely, students from the Non Aligned Movement (NAM) member of observer countries.

The project has been implemented since the 2010/2011 school year with the aim of encouraging international cooperation and promotion of higher education in Serbia.

Thus far as part of the World in Serbia scholarship program, sholarships at state universities have been granted to over 2,000 students over the last 15 years, that cover preparatory Serbian language classes, and then accommodation and meals, monthly financial stipend, as well as health insurance in our country.

(Telegraf.rs/Tanjug)