Rector Milan Mataruga and Vice-Rector Biljana Antunovic at the official visit in China

Rector of the University of Banja Luka, Prof. Dr Milan Mataruga, and Vice-Rector for International Cooperation, Prof. Dr. Biljana Antunovic, were in an official visit in People's Republic of China from October 10th to 15th, participating in many activities in order to improve international cooperation, creating favourable conditions for our teachers, associates and students in international trade, as well as signing contract with the partner university in China within the activities on establishing the Confucius Institute at our University.

During the working visit, representatives of the University of Banja Luka attended The Third Meeting of China - CEEC Higher Education Institutions Consortium “16 + 1”, held in Beijing on October 12th/13th. At the meeting with officials and representatives of the institutions of the countries of the consortium were discussed conditions for signing the charter and declaration among the members of the consortium. The material will be prepared for the Senate and Administrative Board of the University, and with the consent of these authorities it will be sent to department of “China - CEECs Higher Education Institutions Consortium”.
“By joining the consortium, our University would be the first and only one in Bosnia and Herzegovina which would claim the right for dialogue on higher education among the signatory countries, international cooperation and exchange of teaching staff, researchers and students,” said Rector Mataruga. He also added that during the discussion a significant interest of Chinese partners for the international exchange of students and available scholarships for our students was expressed, inviting our students to stay in this country for a month or more.

Rector and Vice-Rector have also participated in the forum of experts “Sino-Europe Forum on Education Policy Think Tanks”, organized by the National Centre for Development Research and Education at the Ministry of Education of China (National Centre for Education Development Research - NCEDR) and the European University Association (EUA). On that occasion were pointed opportunities, but also difficulties in cooperation between the countries of Europe and China, primarily in the field of international exchange of teachers and students, and other outstanding issues and possible solutions with a view to strengthening cooperation in this field. 

On October 14th, the representatives of the University of Banja Luka visited the Tianjin University of Technology and Education, where the President of the Chinese University, Prof. Dr. Liu Xin, and Rector of our University, Prof. Dr. Milan Mataruga, signed an Agreement of Cooperation and shared their interests in establishment of Confucius Institute at the University of Banja Luka.

“The next step is the visit of representatives of this prestigious University to our University on November 7th, when we will celebrate 41 years of successful work of University in Banja Luka. I expect that we will designate date of the opening of Confucius Institute. It is followed by agreements about project activities, the formation of the joint team and coordination of the work plan for the first year. Financial resources are mainly provided by the Chinese partner, and we expect the amount of $ 150,000. China recognized the Republic of Srpska as a friendly country, thus further cooperation beyond the scopes of these two universities. By establishment of the institute, there are many opportunities for cooperation in education, science, research, culture as well as economic and diplomatic activities” said Rector Mataruga, adding that great economic development of China is obvious and that there is an evident interest in cooperation and joint investments in higher education and research.

“In accordance with the significant investment and increasingly dominating experts of this country, as well as increasing interest in studying the culture and language of this country, we expect a major position of our University in these activities”, said the Rector of the University of Banja Luka.