50 Years of the Study Program in Geography in Banja Luka

On 8 November 2019, the study program in geography of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics of the University of Banja Luka organized a ceremony to mark 50 years of the study program in geography in Banja Luka as well as 25 years of enrolment of the first generation of geography students at the University of Banja Luka.

The event was organized in the lecture hall at the Faculty and the guests were addressed by the dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Professor Goran Trbic, PhD, President of the Geographical Society of the Republic of Srpska Professor Rajko Gnjato, PhD, and Head of Geography Study Program Professor Aleksandra Petrasic, PhD. The guests were also addressed by Professor Jelena Golijanin, PhD, Head of the Department of Geography of the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Istocno Sarajevo.

In addition to the professors and assistants from the Geography Study Program, the ceremony was attended by teachers and professors of geography from primary and secondary schools in the Banja Luka region, as well as a large number of students and other guests.

The presentation on the importance and role of geography in the educational system was given by Assistant Professor Mladjen Trifunovic, PhD, while Sladjana Tanasic, education inspector for geography from the Pedagogical Institute of the Republic of Srpska, spoke about the position of geography as a teaching subject in secondary schools of the Republic of Srpska.

After the presentation, a discussion was conducted on the above-mentioned topics and conclusions were proposed on improving the importance and role of geography in the educational process in primary and secondary schools, which will be submitted to the relevant institutions.

The event was organized as a part of manifestations on the occasion of 44 years of successful work and development of the University of Banja Luka.