Roundtable “Careers and the Labor Market” Held at the University of Sarajevo

Within celebratory activities marking the University of Sarajevo’s 70th and 15th anniversary of Bologna Declaration applying, a series of events and activities, including the organization of round tables, academic meetings and workshops are organized.

Within these activities, the University of Sarajevo is organizing a series of roundtables entitled "Higher Education, Social Needs and the (Labor) Market”, so a roundtable entitled “Careers and the Labor Market” took place on 14 November 2019 in the University of Sarajevo Ceremonial Hall.

The round table was opened by Prof. Dr. Rifat Škrijelj, University of Sarajevo Rector. He noted that the terms “career” and “job market” have new meanings today, and that the contents of these terms are constantly changing along with accelerating changes in the world. He emphasized that such roundtables are of great importance and that should be continually held with the main goal: how to improve university work and develop it in order to satisfy development plans and strategies in all areas of social life in our country.

Prof. Dr. Aida Hodžić, Vice-Rector for Teaching and Student Affairs, University of Sarajevo, pointed out that this series of roundtables is organized with the aim of opening serious discussions about the scope and modality of the connection between the higher education system and the market work.

The roundtable participants were also Prof. Dr. Dženana Husremović, Vice-Rector for Research, Prof. Dr. Svetlana Cenić, economist, member of the Supervisory Board of BH Telecom, Prof. Dr. Lejla Gačanica, Legal Advisor and Independent Researcher, Berislav Kutle, Director of the Banking Association of BiH, and Muhamed Pilav, Manager.

Prof. Dr. Dženana Husremović emphasized the importance of the modern concept of career, and stated that the Bosnian society implies the old career paradigm by the term career. She also added that the basic task of the university is to provide professional skills, and that the task is to develop and acquire generic skills through learning outcomes.

Dr. Svetlana Cenić spoke on the topic “From profession to professionalism, from profession to profession.” Her presentation linked consumption and labor market policies and the building of professionalism. She emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a society in constant transition, has shown itself to be potent, for a long time, without recognizing the real potentials.

Lejla Gačanica spoke on the topic “Multidisciplinary and practicality of teaching at the University” and emphasized the importance of the connection between the labor market and practical teaching.
Berislav Kutle, director of the Banking Association of BiH, addressed the key issue of addressing the accumulated problems in his speech. He stated that it is necessary to develop an education strategy modeled on developed societies in which the education system is constantly changing, because it aligns with the needs and challenges of modern society.

Manager Muhammad Pilav cited the example of setting up three factories as a personal example and highlighted the way the factory in Fojnica worked. In cooperation with the high school in Fojnica, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Sarajevo, Zagreb and Belgrade, the company Kreativa, and the Faculty of Economics in Sarajevo, practical training was provided in the factory with a mentor with many years of experience. He suggests that it is best for BiH to copy the German education system and the Japanese work habits. It also suggests that there is a need to improve the level of knowledge in schools and to devote to lifelong learning.