At the heart of the study is the recognition that education plays a dual role in the green transition: it builds public awareness and resilience while also preparing individuals with technical, cognitive, and socio-emotional skills for new types of employment. Surveys show that most Serbians acknowledge climate change is real and caused by human activity, with air pollution, rising temperatures, and extreme weather topping public concerns. Environmental protection is often rated as a higher priority than economic growth. Yet this concern is marked by contradictions: while almost all respondents want more education and training on the green transition, very few are willing to contribute through higher taxes, and the majority place the responsibility for action squarely on the government. These attitudes reveal a pressing need for schools, universities, and training systems to play a stronger role in shaping not just the skills but also the civic responsibility necessary for long-term climate resilience.
Ambitious Policies, But Gaps in Implementation
The report paints a sobering picture of the weaknesses in Serbia’s human capital. According to the Human Capital Index, nearly one-third of potential is being lost due to inadequate education and health outcomes. International benchmarks like the OECD’s PISA 2022 show that Serbian students perform well below the OECD average in mathematics, reading, and science, with disadvantaged students especially at risk. These gaps are critical because foundational skills are the bedrock upon which green knowledge and advanced technical expertise must be built. Environmental education exists in fragments across science, geography, and chemistry curricula, but it remains unsystematic, donor-driven, and heavily dependent on enthusiastic teachers rather than national strategy. Teacher training, curriculum modernization, and lifelong learning opportunities are underfunded and underdeveloped, with estimates suggesting that retraining teachers alone could cost between nine and thirty million euros.
Seeds of Progress and Innovation
Despite the systemic challenges, there are bright spots. Schools across the country are participating in initiatives like Eco-Schools, Climate Box, and Sunny Schools, which bring sustainability into classrooms through recycling, renewable energy, and climate awareness programs. Universities are beginning to offer specialized programs, such as the University of Belgrade’s Master’s in Climate Change and Adaptation, and the University of Novi Sad’s renewable energy initiatives, including solar installations and spin-off companies. Research and innovation are supported by strategies like Smart Specialization, as well as funding mechanisms like Green Innovation Vouchers and UNDP’s Innovation Challenge Calls, though stronger industry–university linkages remain essential.
Roadmap for a Just and Inclusive Transition
The study ultimately calls for a comprehensive strategy to integrate green skills into education and training. It stresses the need for a national framework, guided by interministerial cooperation, to coordinate reforms across foundational education, vocational training, and higher learning. Universal access to pre-primary education, modernization of curricula, retraining of teachers, and expansion of flexible training opportunities such as micro-credentials are all highlighted as priorities. Higher education institutions are urged to take a leading role in research, innovation, and international collaboration, positioning Serbia not just to absorb green technologies but to help shape them. The message is clear: education is not a side issue but the central pillar of Serbia’s climate strategy. If embraced, it can transform the country’s economy and society, ensuring that the green transition becomes a pathway to inclusive prosperity rather than a source of exclusion.
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