Rector Škrijelj visits faculties: How to improve the teaching process

On the occasion of the start of the 2017/2018 academic year, and after the first year of the mandate of the rector and vice-rectors of the University of Sarajevo, Prof. Dr. Rifat Škrijelj, together with Prof. Dr. Aida Hodžić, Prof. Dr. Maida Čohodar-Husić, Prof. Dr. Željko Šain, Prof. Zijad Mehić and student vice-rector Mirza Ibrahimović, began a tour of the organizational units of the University of Sarajevo, reports the Patria agency.  

Meetings were held with the deans of the Faculty of Forestry, Prof. Dr. Mirza Dautbašić, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Prof. Dr. Izet Bijelonja, and the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Prof. Dr. Mustafa  Memić, as well as with vice-deans and secretaries of the aforementioned faculties.

The visits were organized to assess the current situation with the aim of continuous development of the University of Sarajevo, to identify any difficulties, and to improve cooperation. After the initial visits, Rector Škrijelj emphasized that the meetings were organized with the aim of improving cooperation, familiarizing with current events at the faculties, and ensuring that the leadership of the organizational units is informed about the plans of the University management. 

Discussions were held on the implementation of the Law on Higher Education of Sarajevo Canton, and it was emphasized that the University of Sarajevo has begun implementing the Law, but that it will record all shortcomings, i.e., parts of the Law that are unenforceable within the prescribed deadlines, and, through its representatives in the Commission for Monitoring the Implementation of the Law on Higher Education, delegate proposals for improvements, i.e., amendments to the Law under an urgent procedure. 

Special attention was paid to discussions on the realization of the teaching process, theoretical and practical classes, and the spatial capacities of the University's faculties. Some faculties expressed the need for additional financial resources to make the teaching process as successful as possible. 

Rector Škrijelj informed the deans of the faculties that, due to the pronounced shortage of younger academic staff, the "Project for Employment of 200 Assistants – Best Students of the University of Sarajevo" has been developed and submitted to the Government of Sarajevo Canton for consideration. Also, the Federal Employment Institute and the Employment Service of Sarajevo Canton have signed an Agreement on Mutual Cooperation in the implementation of the "Program for Co-financing Employment at Public Universities in the Federation of BiH", which aims to employ assistants, senior assistants, professional associates, and scientific researchers to strengthen human resources for the purpose of improving the educational process at public higher education institutions. 

Rector Škrijelj concluded that he hopes a serious trend of development of the organizational units of the University of Sarajevo will follow in the coming period.