Celebration of the 43rd anniversary of the University of Banja Luka

On 7 November 2018, on the premises of the National Theatre of the Republic of Srpska, an observance was held on the occasion of the 43rd anniversary of the University of Banja Luka. 

In his address, Prof. Radoslav Gajanin, PhD, Rector of the University of Banja Luka, said that the University was the leading higher education institution in the Republic of Srpska, with the longest tradition in academic studies in this region
‘In the past 43 years, we have produced experts from nearly all academic fields.

Our graduates have pursued successful careers both in the Republic of Srpska and abroad’, said Prof. Gajanin, pointing out the fact that there had been significant progress made at the University in the past year. 

‘This progress is due to teamwork of the management of the University, the Senate, the Steering Board, the management of all organisational units, members of staff, and students’, said Prof. Gajanin, stressing out the efforts made in terms of improving the students’ standard and conditions of studying. 

Furthermore, through the engagement of the management of the University and its respective member units, the Government of the Republic of Srpska, President of the Republic of Srpska, and students’ organisations, the University managed to employ the most successful graduates, holders of the Golden Badge of the University, as teaching assistants. 

With regard to international visibility of the University, the number of papers published by the members of staff is on the constant rise. 

‘Given this fact, the management of the University proposed that the most successful researchers, 33 of them, for the past year be awarded with money prizes for their results achieved in international terms, with the single criteria for the award being the impact factor of the journal where a paper had been published’, said Prof. Gajanin, adding that ‘he would like to inform the entire academic community that the University would continue to support the excellence in scientific research, with funds intended for such purposes to be increased in the future, resulting in the consequent increase of the nominees as well’.

‘I would like to use this opportunity to highlight the fact that our success depends solely on ourselves, that there is no progress unless members of staff and all employees treat each other with respect, mutual trust, and understanding’, concluded Prof. Gajanin. 

The present were also addressed by Mr Milorad Dodik, President of the Republic of Srpska and the Serbian member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina elect.

Mr Dodik said that the University of Banja Luka had left a profound mark on the overall development of the Republic of Srpska, reminding everybody of the fact that significant amount of effort and material resources was yet to be invested in order for the University to be inscribed among referent academic institutions in the region of former Yugoslavia and abroad.

’There are many graduates from the University holding high positions in society and making important decisions, and that is not going to change in the future. In addition, there are many who have pursued outstanding careers in foreign countries, proving that our system is well-designed in terms of equipping young people with all the necessary skills and knowledge they might need in their professional life’, stressed out Mr Dodik. 

In addition, Mr Dodik remarked on the fact that there had been an academic institution of that rank in Banja Luka for such a significant period of time, saying that it was one of the policies of the authorities in the Republic of Srpska to support public universities. 

’I am here to celebrate the Day of the University and wish them all a lot of success in their future activities, to the advantage of Banja Luka and the Republic of Srpska on the whole’, concluded Mr Dodik.  

The present were also addressed by Mr Alen Seranic, Minister of Science and Technology and acting Minister of Education and Culture of the Republic of Srpska, Prof. Dragan Antic, PhD, Rector of the University of Nis, and Prof. Zoran Tomic, PhD, Rector of the University of Mostar and Chairman of the Rectors’ Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

Charters and awards 

The management granted all those who had contributed to the overall development of the University with appropriate awards. 

With regard to this, Charter of the University was handed to Prof. Zdenka Babic, PhD, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Ms Seka Kuzmanovic, MA, General Manager of the Elektrokrajina power utility company, Prof. Milan Skrobic, Phd (ret.), Faculty of Medicine, Dr Nenad Novakovic, and the City Development Agency of Banja Luka respectively.

Prof. Strain Posavljak, PhD, Vice-Rector for Education and Students’ Afairs, handed Golden Badges with image of Nikola Tesla to 17 best students of respective faculties of the University. 

The observance was also attended by numerous members of staff and students of the University, rectors and vice-rectors of partner universities, as well as representatives of public and political milieu of the Republic of Srpska.