The 68th University of Sarajevo’s Anniversary Celebrated

The celebration of the 68th University of Sarajevo’s Anniversary Celebrated was organized on Wednesday, 27 December 2017, by holding of a ceremonial Senate session and professor emeriti promotion. The ceremony is a continuation of events organized within marking the 68th anniversary of like the BA and MA diplomas awarding ceremony, Academy of Fine Arts students art work exhibition, the “Officer with Rose” performance by the Academy of Performing Arts students and the promotion of 93 Doctors of Sciences.

On 2 December 1949, in the old City Hall’s building, the University Assembly met at which the first rector of the University of Sarajevo, Dr. Vaso Butozan and First Vice-Rector Drago Krndija were elected. The establishment of the first university in Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the most important dates in its history as the latter time confirmed. It represented a turning point in abandoning the long-term stagnation and neglect, as well as opening the doors for a faster socio-economic and cultural-cultural transformation of the BH society.

With the words of welcome to the attendees, Prof. Dr. Rifat Škrijelj, Rector presented the history and development of the University of Sarajevo, emphasizing that the University of Sarajevo is a modern university representing the backbone of scientific knowledge in our country that through many decades contributed to the development and strengthening of academic capacities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Balkans and Europe.
“Its contribution to building the economic and cultural progress of our society from its very establishment to this day is untenable. With 25 Faculties and Academies, five scientific institutes, four associate members, three university centers and five other members represent one of the most important institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region. The University of Sarajevo, which consists of humanistic, social, medical, natural, mathematical and biotechnical, technical sciences and arts groups, has given over 160 thousand graduates to over 16 thousand graduates, more than 16 thousand MAs and over three thousand doctors of science” “said Rector Škrijelj. He also spoke about the numerous opportunities that are in the Horizon 2020 program through which the European Union finances research and innovation. 

On behalf of the BH Rectors’ Conference, the Chairmen, Prof. Dr. Sead Pašić, University of Mostar “Džemal Bijedić” Rector, and congratulated on the occasion of the 68th anniversary.

The second part of the ceremony was dedicated to the promotion of nine professors emeriti who incorporated their academic careers and their working life into the development of faculties and the University as a whole.

University of Sarajevo Rector, Prof. Dr. Rifat Škrijelj promoted the following professors into University of Sarajevo professors emeriti:

1. Dr. Lejla Saračević, retired full professor at the UNSA Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,
2. Dr. Melita Ahić-Đokić, retired full professor at the UNSA Faculty of Electrical Engineering,
3. Dr. Ismet Demirdžić, retired full professor at the UNSA Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, 
4. Dr. Ivo Komšić, retired full professor at the UNSA Faculty of Philosophy,
5. Dr. Milka Maksimović, retired full professor at the UNSA Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics,
6. Dr. Enes Pelidija, retired full professor at the UNSA Faculty of Philosophy,
7. Dr. Jusuf Žiga, retired full professor at the UNSA Faculty of Political Sciences,
8. Dr. Nusret Smajlović, retired full professor at the UNSA Faculty of Sports and Physical Education,
9. Dr. Zvonimir Tomić, retired full professor at the UNSA Faculty of Law.

On behalf of the promoted professors emeriti, Dr. Lejla Saračević, addressed the attendees.

The University of Sarajevo is by all means is still the leading educational institution in the country. In order to at least partially demonstrate everything that the University represents, a student of the second cycle of Directing studies at the Academy of Performing Arts, Emir Kapetanović, made a short film that presented University of Sarajevo’s capabilities.

In the artistic part participated the Chamber Choir of the UNSA Music Academy who “Gaudeamus” and students of the Music Academy Lejla Hot flute, and Amar Biser, guitar who performed Romanian dances by Bela Bartok.
The ceremony attended by Prof. Dr. Sead Pašić, Chairman of the BH Rectors’ Conference and University of Mostar “Džemal Bijedić” Rector, Prof. Dr. Nermina Hadžigrahić, University of Tuzla Rector, Prof. Dr. Zoran Tomić, University of Mostar Rector, Prof. Dr. Ivo Čolak, University of Mostar Vice-Rector, Dr. Sci. Murat Ramadanović, President of the UNSA Steering Committee, Committee members, senators, numerous professors and students.