Ceremony on the occasion of 50th anniversary of geodesy studies at the UNSA Faculty of Civil Engineering
On 13/12/2023 at the Universtiy of Saraejvo Faculty of Civil Engineering, a special ceremony was held on the occasion of the great jubilee - the 50th anniversary of the start of geodesy studies at that Faculty. The numerous dignitaries present were addressed by Prof. Dr. Admir Mulahusić, head of the Department of Geodesy and Geoinformatics, Faculty of Civil Engineering, UNSA. It was an opportunity to recapitulate the development path of the university study of geodesy at the Faculty of Civil Engineering over the past 50 years, and highlight its exceptional importance for the entire geodesy community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also beyond. It was especially emphasized that the university study of geodesy at the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Sarajevo has a long tradition. Today's Department of Geodesy and Geoinformatics grew out of the Department of Geodesy formed at the Faculty of Civil Engineering in 1961, which was created from the Geodetic Cabinet established at the Technical Faculty in Sarajevo in 1949. The study of geodesy was initiated as an urgent need of BiH, in 1973, and from the very beginning it had its full social, professional and scientific justification (at that time, graduated geodetic engineers made up only 7% of the total number of geodetic experts in BiH). It can rightly be said that the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Sarajevo, through its Department of Geodesy (later the Department of Geodesy, i.e. the Department of Geodesy and Geoinformatics), has played an exceptional role in the overall development of the geodesy profession in Bosnia and Herzegovina over the past five decades, successfully implementing the important task of creating the necessary highly skilled and research staff. By adapting to modern trends and including the latest technological achievements in the field of geodesy and geoinformatics in the teaching, effective study and modern education of geodetic personnel for the needs of profession and science is enabled. This is confirmed by hundreds of quality engineers with a degree in geodesy obtained at the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Sarajevo, who have proven to be successful experts and scientists, making a significant contribution to the geodesy sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A large number of geodetic engineers quickly established themselves in practice and occupied important positions in administrative bodies responsible for geodetic affairs and in operations, and represented a strong driving force for positive changes in the Bosnian geodetic profession and a key lever in its progress. Former students of geodesy at the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Sarajevo, and today engineers with a serious reputation, they have always been respected and proven experts in the country and abroad.
The Geodetic Department of the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Sarajevo has always represented the cradle of modern, scientific research and educational geodetic theory and practice, not only within the framework of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also beyond, because many people from outside Bosnia and Herzegovina obtained their diplomas here. For example, in the period from 2009 until today, about 200 students from the Republic of Croatia attended geodesy studies at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, and a quarter of the total number of students who completed the first cycle of geodesy studies at the Faculty of Civil Engineering were from Croatia. There are numerous qualitative and quantitative indicators that testify to the dynamic development of the Department, its fruitful teaching and research work, of which we only mention here that during these fifty years 969 students graduated, 8 master's theses and 12 doctoral dissertations were defended. The department has become a recognizable center and nursery for the study of all areas of geodesy, and it successfully conducted the intellectual and professional formation of future geodesic personnel, who proved to be successful experts and scientists, making a significant contribution to the geodesy sector in BiH and other countries. Therefore, the jubilee is not only a significant anniversary of this Department, the Faculty of Civil Engineering and the University of Sarajevo, but also represents a date of first-class importance in the history of the development of geodesy in Bosnia and Herzegovina and beyond.
During its 50 years, geodetic university teaching in Sarajevo has always followed the current trends in the country and the world with its content. Therefore, there is no doubt that through the dynamic teaching process at the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Sarajevo, quality geodetic engineers, masters and doctors will continue to be educated and raised. They will be able to fully respond to all the challenges of 21st century jobs in the domain of geodesy and geoinformatics, in the economy and in the state and public sector.
Looking at today's youngest generation of assistants in the Department, as well as the maturity and excellence of the professors, material and spatial capacities, we believe in an even better future for the Department, as an academic and research center of geodesy in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
