Ceremonial Opening of the Faculty of Agriculture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy and the Faculty of Forestry Building

A ceremony for the opening of the new building of the Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering, Geodesy and the Faculty of Forestry of the University of Banja Luka was held on 24 October 2023.

Rector of the University of Banja Luka Prof. Radoslav Gajanin, PhD, thanked the President of the Republic of Srpska Milorad Dodik, the Serbian Member of the BH Presidency Željka Cvijanović, Prime Minister Radovan Višković and Minister for Scientific and Technological Development, Higher Education and Information Society Asst. Prof. Željko Budimir, PhD, for supporting the University and all faculties.

"We have learned a lot while implementing this project and I am sure that we will do even better in all the following projects", Rector Gajanin said and wished the teachers and students of the faculty all the best when moving into the new building.

He added that the total usable area of the constructed and equipped facility is about 7300 square meters, and the investment amounted to BAM 11.7 million.

President of the Republic of Srpska Milorad Dodik pointed out that the Republic of Srpska allocated its own funds from the budget for the construction of this building.

"This was not at the expense of the University; it was a grant. We thought we needed to do this", Dodik said.

"The facility was built with the effort and desire of many people. Today we have this building which was constructed with the funds of the Republic of Srpska, which proves that the Republic of Srpska can do it", Dodik said in his speech at the ceremony.

He added that he is proud that the new facility remains for future generations of professors and students to gain universal knowledge that can be used anywhere in the world and that can present Banja Luka, the Republic of Srpska and the Serbian people.

The president congratulated the deans, professors and students on the opening of the facility.

"I wish everyone successful work here, many graduates and those who will attain their doctorates, I want this faculty to raise its rating on international lists", said the president.

Serbian Member of the BH Presidency Željka Cvijanović expressed her satisfaction with the ceremonial opening of this building, which creates much better conditions for the work of professors and students.

Cvijanović said that she was satisfied that, in different functions within the institutions of the Republic of Srpska, she was able to participate in the decision-making, based on which the new faculties and student dormitories of the Republic of Srpska were established.

"Together, we made certain important decisions that created the conditions for studying as cheaply as possible, comparing to our entire region." I think that the Republic of Srpska is slowly closing that system. I remember what this campus looked like at the beginning and how much time, attention, money and energy we invested in filling it with various content and we will continue to do so in the future", Cvijanović emphasized.

"Here we are trying to connect something that is referred to as traditional construction and these modern facilities that we have available today for our faculties, and in this way we show the ability of the Republic of Srpska to draw our strength for the future from something in the past." This is an indicator of the strength of the Republic of Srpska", Cvijanović said after the ceremonial opening of the facility of the two faculties.

"We will nurture excellence at both universities in the Republic of Srpska." Only exceptionality, expertise, strength and courage to be autarkic, because this building is also the result of the intelligence of the Republic of Srpska. It was completed without a single mark from credit funds and it demonstrates that the Republic of Srpska is capable, autarkic and self-sustaining even in the 21st century and will remain so", said the Minister for Scientific and Technological Development, Higher Education and Information Society Asst. Prof. Željko Budimir, PhD. He said that the Republic of Srpska allocates considerable funds for the education of students, whom he urges to stay in the Republic of Srpska.

Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy Prof. Saša Čvoro, PhD, said that this faculty was founded in 1996 as an expression of the desire for the vitality of the Republic of Srpska.

"Today, the faculty educates highly skilled staff and is an institution where future specialists with broad knowledge are trained," said Čvoro in his speech.

He added that without the support of the institutions of the Republic of Srpska, it would not be possible to implement the capital project of building a new building, emphasizing that the President of the Republic of Srpska Milorad Dodik provided selfless support to that project.

Acting Dean of the Faculty of Forestry Academician Prof. Zoran Govedar, PhD, said that thanks to the new facility, better work results can be expected.

Professor Govedar reminded that this faculty was founded in 1992 and that it trains personnel capable of coping with all scientific challenges in the field.

"The mission of the Faculty of Forestry of the University of Banja Luka is based on commitment to the highest standards of education and scientific research in forestry. Therefore, the emphasis is on both teaching and scientific research", said Govedar.

The ceremony dedicated to the opening of the facility was also attended by vice-rectors, deans and members of the University's Steering Board, President of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of the Republic of Srpska Academician Prof. Rajko Kuzmanović, PhD, and numerous guests.