The graduation ceremony of the 23rd generation of ERMA program students
The graduation ceremony for the 23rd cohort of students from the European Regional Master's Programme in Democracy and Human Rights in Southeast Europe (GCSEE/ERMA) took place today, with 14 students receiving their certificates from this esteemed international MA program. The event, held at the prof. dr. Zdravko Grebo Center for Interdisciplinary Studies of the University of Sarajevo, was attended by diplomats, university faculty, ERMA staff, and students. Since its inception, approximately 665 students, primarily from Southeast Europe, the EU, and beyond, have completed the program. Graduates receive a joint degree from the University of Sarajevo and the University of Bologna.
The ceremony began with a welcome speech by the University of Sarajevo’s Vice Rector for Teaching and Student Affairs, Prof. Dženana Husremović. Speeches followed from Alessandro de Giacomo, Political Officer and Human Rights Focal Point at the EU Delegation to BiH & European Union Special Representative in BiH, and Riccardo Righelli, First Secretary and Head of Cultural Affairs at the Embassy of Italy in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The keynote address on "Human Rights and Education" was delivered by Prof. Roberto Vecchi, Vice Rector for Teaching and Education at the University of Bologna. Representatives of the 2023/2024 cohort, Hana Huskić and Orestis Nicolaou, shared their reflections, while ERMA Alumni Network (EAN) members Lamija Kovačević and Chiara Maria Murgia also addressed the gathering. Programme Co-Directors Prof. Marco Borraccetti and Prof. Asim Mujkić provided a report for the 2023/2024 academic year and announced the students whose theses were recognized as the best, along with other graduation awards.
Clara Salaverria Embid was awarded with the 6 months paid internship sponsored by the Global Campus of Human Rights for her academic success and the excellent thesis defense. The thesis of Orestis Nicolaou will be published in the Global Campus of Human Rights repository, while the theses of Valmira Morina, Maria Perojević and Clara Salaverria Embid were awarded the best thesis award and will be published in the ERMA Best theses booklet.
The ERMA program is a collaborative initiative between various universities in Southeast Europe and the European Union. Since its inception in 2000, it has been supported by European funding, with financial backing from the EU (INTPA) for over a decade, provided through the Global Campus of Human Rights.
The University of Sarajevo and the University of Bologna extend their heartfelt congratulations to the graduates and warmly welcome them to the Alumni Network, wishing them success in their future professional endeavors.