Konaković with the Senate: Problems at UNSA are piling up, everything comes down to promises and nice stories

At the initiative of the Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton Elmedin Konaković and the Minister of Education, Science and Youth of Sarajevo Canton Elvir Kazazović yesterday, the third joint meeting was held with the Rector of the University of Sarajevo Muharem Avdispahić, members of the Management Board, the University Senate, and deans of all higher education institutions, it was announced from the KS Government, reports the Patria News Agency.

This was an opportunity to jointly assess the problems of the faculties within UNSA, their operations, with a special emphasis on the problems of Sarajevo students.

The President of the Student Parliament of the University of Sarajevo (SPUS) Haris Zahiragić emphasized on this occasion that all university professors must understand that they are there for the students.

He said that it is necessary to ban professors from teaching in parallel at private faculties.

They will request the Sarajevo Canton Government to adopt the Law on Student Standards, which will ensure better living conditions for students, as well as an increase in the number of educational inspectors, as there is only one in the Canton.

All participants of the meeting agreed that students are an important part of the academic community and that their views should be respected in solving key issues.

Prime Minister Konaković supported the drafting and adoption of the law on student standards, as this has been one of the goals of this Government since its appointment.

- In this way, we will jointly define and establish student standards and work on their fulfillment," stated Konaković, adding that the student population should engage in this way and work on representing, promoting, protecting, and realizing student rights.

He informed those present that the Sarajevo Canton Government has resolutely embarked on completing the integration process of the University.

- We will bring this process to an end, and by May we must also adopt the Law on Higher Education, which is why I invite you once again to urgently join us. We do not want to interfere with your autonomy and we believe that you are an independent educational institution, but you must have a unified university account - stated Prime Minister Konaković, adding that this account will be managed by the Management Board and the University Rector, but the Sarajevo Canton Assembly must give its consent to it.

He emphasized that significant savings have been made in preschool, primary, and secondary education, and that no saved mark has been used to solve problems in companies with large debts.

- Every saving is intended to improve the educational process, which is why I believe that integrating the University would enable more significant investment in increasing the quality of teaching and, consequently, of students - said Prime Minister Konaković.

Minister Kazazović said that the problems that exist in certain faculties also arise as a consequence of unfinished integration processes, as well as an unclear relationship between faculties as separate legal entities and the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth and the Sarajevo Canton Government, as well as the founder, the KS Assembly.

- We are ready to provide services wherever we have jurisdiction and possibilities, but the faculties remain responsible for solving problems arising from their own bad decisions - stated Minister Kazazović.

As emphasized, the Government will have oversight and monitoring of the legality of operations, without taking on competencies that do not belong to it.

It was also pointed out that the problems of heating in the Campus, the multi-million debts of the Faculty of Pharmacy, and the current issue of disputed diplomas at the Faculty of Political Sciences must be resolved.

Minister Kazazović stated that very important implementing acts have been adopted that UNSA has not had until now, namely the bylaws on salaries and on extra-budgetary funds, while the bylaw on the distribution of own revenues is in preparation.

Monitoring market needs through the enrollment policy of faculties is very important for the development of the educational process in Sarajevo Canton.

- We expect the academic community to actively participate in harmonizing the actual needs for personnel who are missing in the labor market, because our goal is to stop the overproduction of personnel who are not needed - said Prime Minister Konaković.

He asked all members of the academic community to initiate and propose changes to the existing legislation that hinders the implementation of any significant process.

It was emphasized that economic indicators indicate the need for educated young people in the fields of tourism, wood processing industry, and information technologies. Such processes must be followed by a planned enrollment policy. All of this should be regulated, as emphasized today, by adopting the Development Strategy of the University of Sarajevo, which would answer many questions posed today, one of which is the management of human resources in faculties, i.e., the creation of new university staff, according to the statement.