Press release
Sarajevo/Ljubljana, 28 November 2019 – Director of International Institute for Middle-East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES) Assist. Prof. Zijad Bećirović, Ph.D. visited University of Sarajevo. Director Bećirović was hosted by the University of Sarajevo Rector, Prof. Dr. Rifat Škrijelj, Academician Dr. Mirko Pejanović, UNSA Professor Emeritus, Vice-Rectors Prof. Dr. Dženana Husremović and Prof. Dr. Aleksandra Nikolić, Faculty of Philosophy Dean Prof. Dr. Muhamed Dželilović, Faculty of Political Sciences Dean Prof. Dr. Sead Turčalo and Faculty of Criminalistics, Criminology and Security Studies Dean Prof. Dr. Nedžad Korajlić.
In 2017, the University of Sarajevo (UNSA) and IFIMES signed a Cooperation Agreement, so at this meeting the ways for further improving of cooperation were discussed.
IFIMES has a special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council ECOSOC/UN since 2018 and is the publisher of the International Scientific Journal “European Perspectives”. At the meeting was concluded that University of Sarajevo faculty members and students will have the opportunity to publish their scientific papers within this international scientific journal.
Organization of joint events (conferences, roundtables, summer schools …), as well as joint activities within ECOSOC were also discussed. Joint participation in EU projects was raised and Director Bećirović suggested establishing cooperation between the University of Sarajevo and IFIMES partner universities in order to launch dual study programs. He also emphasized the increasing number of activities to promote the internationalization of the University of Sarajevo.
Director Bećirović congratulated the University on the occasion of the high jubilee -70 years since the founding of the University of Sarajevo and wished many successes also in the future to this leading institution of higher education, scientific research and education in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Director Bećirović stated his support for the University of Sarajevo’s leadership in striving for the University's autonomy, and emphasized the following: “In the globalized world, the role of public universities and their repositioning in the South-eastern Europe and the Western Balkans’ societies is extremely important, while respecting the fact that university must retain the autonomy of its activities, teaching and research work. Attempts made to disable or impair autonomy must be unacceptable to the wider community and as such must be rejected. Due to the systematic and brutal attacks by one part of the political structures and informal centers on the University of Sarajevo, I will inform the European academic community and the public that it will assist the University of Sarajevo in the fight for its autonomy and in maintaining the position of a leading scientific educational and pedagogical institution in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The university must remain a model of academic autonomy and academic freedom and a pillar of Bosnia and Herzegovina's development, as it brings together the highest quality and most competent staff in this country.”
When speaking about cooperation with IFIMES, Rector Škrijelj emphasized that IFIMES and University of Sarajevo experts can make significant contribution in taking positions on some important issues the Institute deals with, as well as the contribution to the University of Sarajevo educational processes.
Sarajevo/Ljubljana, 28 November 2019
