The establishment and development of the Faculty of Science in Kragujevac are here described following the historical growth of the various higher education institutions which preceded it.

Continuing the interrupted flow of Serbian medieval culture in the late 18th and early 19th century, simultaneously with the liberation struggle against the Ottoman government, and accepting the Enlightenment ideas of the time, the modern Serbian state and culture began to exist. The most important figure of the Enlightenment in Serbia was Dositej Obradović (1742-1811). Travelling through Europe, he brought the ideas of the Enlightenment to Serbia and advocated for the development of education, emphasizing its importance for Serbian culture. Since his arrival in Serbia in 1807, the number of schools rose sharply. He became the Minister of Education (popečitelj prosveštenija) during the rule of Karadjordje Petrovic (1762-1817).

Certainly, the most important event for the development of higher education in Serbia was the establishment of the Great School, or so-called Ustanička velika škola and later Dositej’s Great School in Belgrade in 1808, which lasted under the rule of Karadjordje until 1813. The Great School in Belgrade was a special kind of school where both secondary and higher education took place. It was high school in the first and second year, and it was a higher education institution in the third school year.

Kragujevac became the capital of Serbia in 1818 and obtained a leading role in the political, economic and cultural development of the country. After gaining autonomy by the Edict of 1830 and complete autonomy by Imperial Edict of 1833, which was read out at Trifun’s Day Assembly in Kragujevac on 13 February 1834, in addition to other ministries, the Ministry of Education was established for the first time, and at Sretenje Assembly held in Kragujevac on 15 February 1835 Dimitrije Davidović was appointed the first Minister of Education. Since then, under new and favourable circumstances, schools and other cultural institutions have rapidly been established in Serbia. Thanks to Vuk Karadžić (1787-1864), the Great School in Belgrade began operations again in 1830. The school’s operations were managed by Professor Dimitrije Isailović (1783-1853).

Gymnasium in Kragujevac

As Prince Milos Obrenović (1780-1860) decided, the Great School moved from Belgrade to Kragujevac in 1833 and there continued to operate as the first secondary school in the Principality of Serbia. In the same year, the earliest Education Act – Constitution of public schools in the Principality of Serbia – was passed. Based on this Act, the Great School in Kragujevac lasted for a three-year period, and it became a four-year school in 1835-36 school year called Gymnasium. In 1838 Gymnasium had five grades, and beginning 1853 it had seven grades.

Master Jevrems mansion - The Lyceum building in Kragujevac

At that time, Serbia was in a great need for highly educated people. At the suggestion of the then Minister of Education, as Prince Milos decided on July 1, 1838, the Lyceum was established in Kragujevac as the first college in Serbia. Thus, the four-year high school education was extended to six years.

At that time the Lyceum represented the highest-ranking educational institution in Serbia.
The first rector of the Lyceum in Kragujevac was Atanasije Nikolić (1803-1882), the professor of enormous creative spirit and energy who greatly contributed to the realization of the idea of higher education in Serbia and its further development as a precursor to the first University. At first, only the Department of Philosophy was founded at the Lyceum.

In 1853 the Department of Natural and Technical Sciences was founded at the Lyceum. These studies were based at the Lyceum as a higher education institution and science-specific areas were set up for further study in higher education institutions that emerged from the Lyceum.

Prince Miloš abdicated in 1839, and the state administration moved from Kragujevac to Belgrade. In the same year, the Lyceum was separated from the Gymnasium and continued to operate in Kragujevac until 1841, when it moved to Belgrade – the new capital. On the basis of the General Education Act of 1844, the organization of all schools in Serbia was established for the first time, from elementary to the highest level.

A major reform of the Lyceum took place in 1863, when the Great School was established in Belgrade. The former departments were transformed into the faculties of the Great School: Faculty of Philosophy, Faculty of Law, and Faculty of Engineering. Thus, the Lyceum of the Principality of Serbia can rightly be considered a forerunner of today's University in Serbia. Passing the University Act in 1905, the Great School became the University of Belgrade.

The Gymnasium (1833), Lyceum (1838), Military-craft School (1854) and Teacher Training School (1871) can be considered the forerunners of higher education in Kragujevac.

Women Teacher Training School, 1926s

In the second half of the 19th century in Serbia schools began to open up rapidly and qualified teachers were needed. In 1871 the first Teacher Training School in Serbia was established. Thus, Kragujevac became the educational centre of Serbia. Thanks to enviable professional qualifications of their teachers and the support of the state, the School soon gained a high reputation. In 1877, Teacher Training School was moved to Belgrade, and in 1903 again returned to Kragujevac as Women Teacher Training School. But, the development of pedagogical thinking and professional and pedagogical training of teachers in Kragujevac was not over.

Along with the development of education in the twenties of the last century, Kragujevac took on a new urban appearance. Many buildings were built following novel architectural styles. So, in 1926 a new building was built for the Teacher Training School (now the main building of the Faculty of Sciences), being the most beautiful building in Kragujevac of that time along with the Gymnasium and the Court. It was built in Art Deco style on four hectares of land obtained from the Local Administration of Kragujevac and supported by the state. It was one of the most modern schools in the then Serbia assessing its appearance, functionality and equipment. Later, the Teacher Training School was named after Professor Miloje Pavlović who was a prominent resident of Kragujevac and graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy and the Faculty of Law of the University of Belgrade. He was carried out of the Teacher Training School and executed in Šumarice on 21 October 1941.

      Under the auspices of the School, in addition to the Women's Teacher Training School, which was later developed into a gender mixed school for teachers, Primary School ‘’21. oktobar’’ was founded as a gym in 1959. It was renovated in 1962 by adding an additional floor and attic and giving it the present appearance.

      The Teacher Training College was established in Kragujevac in 1950 and provided thousands of qualified pedagogues of different fields. Both professors and students have greatly affected the educational and cultural identity of the city.

Teacher Training College Miloje Pavlovic, about 1960

„What has adorned Kragujevac-based education from its beginnings to present days is the teachers – people of unquestionable talent, high ambition and an emphasis on the educational component. Thus, in the Gymnasium (Prva kragujevačka gimnazija) which connects this modern educational institution with the roots of Miloš's capital, professors who earned Master’s and PhD degrees have not been rare. Also, a vast array of experts have produced great benefits to the local economy and entrepreneurial successes of local companies. This represented the driving force of development and education, as well as the establishment of institutions of higher education."

Teachers' Training School in Kragujevac ceased to exist in 1971, and the Teachers’ Training College came to an end in 1975. The activities of the Teachers' Training College in the field of natural sciences and mathematics were the foundations for establishing the corresponding departments of the newly established Faculty of Science in Kragujevac. Thus, science and education in Kragujevac have continued to develop.

In the early sixties of the last century, Kragujevac welcomed the establishment of the Faculty of Economics and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering as departments of the University of Belgrade. Two additional departments – the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Science – were established in 1972.

Help and support came from the state, the city of Kragujevac and professors from the University of Belgrade and other universities. They conducted the classes in the early years of the Faculty of Science, and contributed that the Faculty has rapidly evolved and became independent in 1976. In the same year, 138 years after the establishment of the Lyceum, the then University ‘Svetozar Marković’ and today the University of Kragujevac was founded. Today the University has 12 faculties and over 18, 000 students.

Faculty of Science – Composition above the main entrance

The Faculty of Science in Kragujevac is constantly evolving and is one of the leading members of the University of Kragujevac. Based on the results of scientific research and pedagogical work of its professors and staff, it is highly ranked among the leading universities in Serbia, with a dedicated and strong international cooperation. The state of Serbia and its Ministry of Education and Science provide great support and assistance to the development of the Faculty of Science and the entire University. In addition, the city of Kragujevac intensively supports the development of its University.

As time has shown, the Gymnasium and the Lyceum in Kragujevac were of a special significance for the history of the University of Serbia, in particular for the establishment of the University of Belgrade, from which as offset arose the University of Kragujevac. The Faculty of Science, with the Lyceum at its foundations and the succeeding generations of teachers and students, is ready for the tough challenges posed by modern times, waiting for new generations of students and striving towards new achievements.