Minister Nikolić with Rector Škrijelj: Support for the Development of UNSA

SARAJevo, (Patria) - The newly appointed Minister of Science, Higher Education, and Youth of Sarajevo Canton, Prof. Dr. Aleksandra Nikolić, along with Azra Ivazović, Assistant Minister for Higher Education, Azemina Njuhović, Assistant Minister for Science, and Belma Trajkov, Secretary of the Ministry, visited the University of Sarajevo today. 

The focus of the discussion with the leadership of the University of Sarajevo was on creating an institutional and legislative environment that will enable the University of Sarajevo to strengthen the excellence of individuals, teams, and the entire sector. Also, the topics of the meeting included the implementation of integration, and the realization of the teaching process and scientific research work.

The meeting was attended by the Rector of the University of Sarajevo, Prof. Dr. Rifat Škrijelj, Vice-Rectors: Prof. Dr. Dženana Husremović, Vice-Rector for Teaching and Student Affairs, Prof. Dr. Mirza Dautbašić, Vice-Rector for Scientific Research, Prof. Dr. Dušanka Bošković, Vice-Rector for Quality, Prof. Dr. Tamara Karača Beljak, Vice-Rector for Art, Artistic Research, Culture, and Sport, Secretary General Kenan Filipović, Head of the Legal Affairs Service Berina Smajlović-Doljančić, and Head of the Rector's Cabinet Miroslav Živanović.

Minister Nikolić assessed today's meeting as very successful and highlighted the key messages. "The first message is to tell and show the University of Sarajevo that we are one team, that the Ministry is committed to supporting the University in its endeavor to become a prestigious regional higher education and scientific institution. It already is, and an example of good practice is the news we received on the day dedicated to science when we learned that academician Dejan Milošević was ranked among the top 2% of the most cited scientists in the world. We are extremely pleased to see that the University of Sarajevo, with its capacities, can produce such successful and excellent scientists as academician Milošević," stated Minister Nikolić. She also emphasized the Ministry's commitment to creating conditions and an environment, both institutionally and legislatively, which, as she stated, means a law that will enable the academic community, not only at the University of Sarajevo but also at other higher education and scientific research institutions in Sarajevo Canton, to work freely and creatively, to create new values, and to lead us into the 21st century on the wings of science and scientific achievements from which the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina will benefit.

"Bosnia and Herzegovina as a state, as well as Sarajevo Canton and the citizens of Sarajevo, are accustomed to expecting and receiving a lot from the University of Sarajevo, as its third function, which is to stimulate community development. The University of Sarajevo has made a huge contribution to the development of BiH and Sarajevo Canton. In this context, I would like private higher education institutions to also contribute or show us how they contribute to the development of both the city of Sarajevo and Sarajevo Canton. I believe that we should all very quickly find ourselves on a platform that would concern the creation of conditions for the city of Sarajevo to become a city of young people, a city of students, a city that will gather not only young people from the region but from all over the world, where we will spread bright and positive ideas and where we will create a better future for ourselves," emphasized Minister Nikolić.

Rector Škrijelj emphasized that the establishment of the Ministry of Science, Higher Education, and Youth of Sarajevo Canton is of great importance for the academic community of the University of Sarajevo, and he assessed the meeting as extremely significant, especially at a time when the University is facing challenges of fundamental reform processes that it is implementing uncompromisingly and consistently, respecting the valid legal framework governing higher education. The participants of the meeting were informed about the strategic endeavors of the University of Sarajevo to enable continuous staff renewal and rejuvenation of the academic base, i.e., teaching and scientific research human resources. In parallel, capital efforts are being invested in the development of university infrastructure, especially in the part related to the construction and maintenance of the University of Sarajevo Campus, as well as equipping and investing in scientific research infrastructure.

The meeting was also used for concrete agreements on operational activities to overcome the problems arising from the fact that the Ministry operated without a minister in the previous period, and has not yet fully completed its personnel infrastructure, as soon as possible. In this regard, the Ministry can count on the full support of the University, emphasized Rector Škrijelj, especially in the part that will enable constructive dialogue and transparent public consultations in the process of adopting the new Law on Higher Education, which is one of the key priorities of the higher education system in Sarajevo Canton.

The Ministry and the University will, in the shortest possible time, proceed to sign contracts for the implementation of scientific research projects financed by the Budget of Sarajevo Canton in the amount of 2,700,000.00 KM, and then, with the mediation of the Ministry, additional discussions will follow with the Government of Sarajevo Canton aimed at resolving all current issues in the area of personnel and infrastructural improvement of the University of Sarajevo in order to create prerequisites for raising the regional competitiveness of the largest and best University in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In this regard, the organization of thematic workshops focused on the effects of domestic and international university projects and the additional capacity building for their implementation in the coming period will also be of particular importance.

The most important are 3 projects related to staff renewal, the University of Sarajevo Campus, and equipping and investing in research infrastructure

"The University of Sarajevo is committed to the fundamental reform of its operations and strengthening its capacities, and we will persevere in this," jointly concluded the teams of the Ministry of Science, Higher Education, and Youth of Sarajevo Canton and the University of Sarajevo, led by Minister Prof. Dr. Aleksandra Nikolić and Rector Prof. Dr. Rifat Škrijelj.