Meeting with the Ambassador of the Russian Federation H.E. Petr Ivancov: Promising cooperation with universities from the Russian Federation 

Professor Dr. Radoslav Gajanin, Rector of the University of Banja Luka had a meeting with the Ambassador of the Russian Federation H.E. Petr Ivancov on March 6, 2019, where they discussed plans for future cooperation.

Rector Prof. Dr. Radoslav Gajanin mentioned that cooperation with universities from the Russian Federation is the most active international cooperation that the University is involved in.

It was confirmed during the meeting that the University of Banja Luka (UBL) has already signed a Memorandum of cooperation with 12 universities in the Russian Federation.

On the other hand, H.E. the Ambassador Ivancov expressed gratitude towards the graduates of the UBL who actively work on promoting the Russian language in the Republic of Srpska, mentioning its importance when it comes to maintaining strong connection between our two nations.

He mentioned that the Russian Federation gives away scholarships for students in the Republic of Srpska, and announced that this will be an ongoing trend.

During the meeting was mentioned that the University of Banja Luka and Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas from Moscow are in the final process of preparation for the signing of the Memorandum of cooperation.

The delegates of the UBL expressed the interest in establishing Chair for the Russian language at the Faculty of Philology that will grow into a form of an institute which could function like the Confucius institute at the University of Banja Luka.

The Russian diplomat presented the possibility to have a “Russian Humanitarian Mission” sponsor a lecturer that will come present at the Russian language and literature study program of the Faculty of Philology. This initiative was supported by the delegates of the UBL.

A possibility discussed at the meeting is having delegates from the Russian language and literature study program of the Faculty of Philology of the UBL come and participate in the First scientific and practical school of “Dominati srpske kulture” that will be carried out in Moscow at the end of this year.

Delegates of the UBL showed interest and hope to establish an interinstitutional cooperation with “Lomonosov” Moscow State University. The ground for this cooperation was the newly concluded agreement that the Faculty of Philology of UBL has signed.
During the meeting, delegates of UBL mentioned that the Academy of Art of UBL has an outstanding cooperation with the Russian Federation. Furthermore, the Ambassador was presented with a possibility to have UBL organize and host “Days of Russian culture” or “Days of Russian literature”.

Everyone at the meeting expressed hope for a successful realization of planned activities.

The full list of attendees at the meeting is as follows: Prof. Dr. Luka Kecman, Vice-Rector for Human and Material Resources; Prof. Dr. Goran Latinović, Vice-Rector for Scientific Research and University Development; Prof. Dr. Strain Posavljak, Vice-Rector for Teaching and Students Issues; Branislav Nikolić, assistant at the Russian language and literature study program at the Faculty of Philology of the UBL; Mrs. Lilia Sabirova, attaché for culture at the embassy of the Russian Federation in Bosnia and Herzegovina; Mr. Nikolay Manulik, third Secretary at the embassy; and Mile Aljetić from the association “Glas Republike”.