The inauguration ceremony of University of Sarajevo Rector, Prof. Dr. Tarik Zaimović
Ceremonial inauguration of a new Rector of the University of Sarajevo for the mandate period 2024–2028 Prof. Dr. Tarik Zaimović took place buried today in the City Hall. The City Hall is the venue where the first session of the University Assembly was held on 2 December 1949, where the first rector and vice-rector of the University of Sarajevo were elected.
Prof. Dr. Rifat Škrijelj, University of Sarajevo Rector in the mandate periods 2016-2020 and 2020-2024, emphasized in his final speech that he is filled with pride, gratitude and reflection on the past eight years.
“From 2016, when I assumed this responsible and honorable position, until today, the University of Sarajevo has gone through one of the most dynamic and significant periods of its modern history. When I assumed the position of rector, we set and accepted an ambitious plan to reform our University, leading it through integration, computerization and internationalization,” he stated.
He particularly highlighted the struggle to preserve and strengthen the autonomy of the University of Sarajevo, stressing that autonomy is not just a technical issue, it is the foundation on which freedom of research, innovation and critical thinking rests. He also reminded that in his second mandate period, from 2020 to 2024, the University faced unprecedented challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted daily life and work.
“Nevertheless, we showed exceptional flexibility and resilience. Despite the global crisis, the University of Sarajevo continued to work without interruption, adapting to the new conditions through the digitization of teaching and research processes. During that period, we continued to strengthen the IT infrastructure of our University, which resulted in the development of the eUNSA system, a unique digital solution that today serves as the backbone of our educational and administrative work.”
He pointed out that he is proud of the progress in the field of science and research, and pointed to the significant increase in the international reputation of the University of Sarajevo, confirmed by prestigious awards and project successes.
“I am particularly proud of our continuous work to improve conditions for students. During the previous period, we managed to provide support for students through the establishment of the Student Support Office, but also through numerous scholarships and mobility programs,” he emphasized.
He said that the University of Sarajevo is now on solid foundations, ready for new challenges and new victories. “The university is an institution that is constantly developing, and I am sure that with the new leadership, it will continue the path of progress and success. I wish the new rector a lot of luck and success, and I am convinced that with the joint work of all of us, the University of Sarajevo will be a leader in higher education, not only in our country, but also in the wider region”, stated Prof. Dr. Rifat Škrijelj, and added that it was a great honor and privilege to serve as rector of the University of Sarajevo. “This was a position that filled me with incredible pride, but also with responsibility. I believe that we will all continue to work together to strengthen our community, our University and our state of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The future of the University of Sarajevo is bright, and I am sure that this institution will continue to be a source of knowledge, innovation and progress for generations to come.”
The President of the Student Parliament of the University of Sarajevo, Imran Pašalić, reflected on the activities of the Student Parliament in the past period, and the numerous projects that they implement, especially at the international level, stressing that the students of the University of Sarajevo represent not only the University, but also Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the best light. wherever they appear. He emphasized the importance of networking with students from Europe and the world, which previously required the strengthening of ties with students of other public universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was initiated by the Student Parliament in the past period.
“Student rights have recently been grossly violated and we really plan to stop it - all universities and students together.” We will continue to fight for student rights and issues”, emphasized Imran Pašalić, and thanked the former rector of the University of Sarajevo, Prof. Dr. To Rifat Škrijelj, who in the past period was always helpful when he could, and when he wasn't, he was not an obstacle in the realization of student rights. He also thanked the entire vice-rector's team, as well as the deans who never closed the door to student problems, as he stated, trying to solve all challenges and problems as soon as possible and as favorably as possible for students. He expressed his gratitude for the correct relationship and to all the ministers of science, higher education and youth of Sarajevo Canton who supported the work of the Student Parliament of the University of Sarajevo for many years.
Reminding that the students who, after completing their studies at the University of Sarajevo, leave Bosnia and Herzegovina represent our university and our homeland in the best way, he added: “We have to work much more and to retain young, highly educated people, because we are the last country in Europe in terms of the number of highly educated people, which does not exceed 16%. We must invest much more in education, and only when the Campus of the University of Sarajevo comes to life in the full sense can we talk about the kind of student life we deserve” .
Decision on the appointment and rector's chain of Prof. Dr. Tarik Zaimović, rector of the University of Sarajevo in the mandate period 2024-2028. year, handed over by Prof. Dr. Rifat Škrijelj, Rector for the mandate periods 2016–2020 and 2020–2024.
The newly elected rector of the University of Sarajevo, Prof. Dr. Tarik Zaimović, with expressions of gratitude for the trust shown, reminded that in the years behind us, some of the most important processes for the University of Sarajevo have been completed. “Through a comprehensive reorganization in the past years, and a clear determination to invest in scientific and artistic infrastructure - but perhaps more importantly, in the development of our internal capacities - the University of Sarajevo has made strong strides towards a modern European university, following the transformation of universities in the region, but also in the countries of the European Union”.
Emphasizing that the University of Sarajevo must continue to nurture academic freedom, innovation, individual social responsibility and the overall quality of education and research, he underlined that in the time we live in, the role of universities far exceeds traditional boundaries, and universities become key actors in solving broader social problems. promoting civic engagement, creating inclusive communities and driving social change.
“Like no other higher education institution in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the University of Sarajevo unites all areas of scientific research and artistic research work, and the faculties and academies of the University have had, and still have, an immeasurable impact on the development of society. Our scientific research institutes continuously confirm their importance through work on crucial scientific research projects, while the faculties of the University are still today the most potent scientific nucleus, encouraging technological development, innovative potential, as well as the development possibilities of the economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Our art academies, with their educational and artistic quality, are recognized internationally as well, clearly showing that art represents the universal content essence of the quality of a society,” Rector Zaimović pointed out, stressing that the University of Sarajevo must remain a place of knowledge creation and assume the role of initiator of positive changes in Bosnian society. “In the coming period, our joint task should be to effectuate all the positive assumptions of integration and continue the development of the University as a carrier of knowledge transfer for the purpose of improving the general social and economic situation. The culture of innovation, and the strengthening of the infrastructure necessary for that, as well as the institutional connection with the economy, will be one of the tasks”.
Rector Zaimović stated that students are the priority of the University of Sarajevo, and referred to the new law that facilitates the initiation of new and improvement of existing study programs, the development of dual and strengthening of non-cyclical education, and the integration of an interdisciplinary approach in the creation of study programs. with the aim of providing different opportunities for an increasingly diversified student population, must be the most important topic in the coming years - and the interdisciplinary approach in teaching and research must become the norm and be at the center of this change”.
He also emphasized that as a University, we must not accept the premise that administrative measures, evaluations or bibliometric indicators can ensure the success of students, which is only possible with the quality of teaching and active work with students. “Institutionally, we must resist the continuation of the bureaucratization of education, which will not only not lead to improvement, but to the devastation of quality and the euthanasia of the inexpressibly necessary critical thought. As individuals, as well as the University, we must resist various pressures to become workers in the education sector, not teachers of generations”.
He stated that, after an extremely turbulent decade, the institutional autonomy of the University of Sarajevo must be the key assumption of all relations. “Only with full autonomy, the University will have the necessary prerequisites to fulfill its educational, research and overall social mission”, and concluded that the University of Sarajevo must not allow the “institutional autonomy” of work and action to be manipulated and traded for the sake of short-term interests.
“Internal construction and connection, external engagement, and expansion of the material base ultimately serve only one purpose: preserving the University of Sarajevo as a bastion of free thought,” Rector Zaimović pointed out, and emphasized that thanks to the efforts of the academic community, as well as the understanding of the interlocutors, in the previous period the University of Sarajevo managed to create a framework for an enviable level of institutional autonomy.
“Now it's up to us, as individuals as members of the collective, to preserve and strengthen that autonomy, so that the University can fulfill its mission - to quote academic Branko Despot - as a community of seekers of truth under the rule of freedom”, was the message with which Rector Zaimović ended his inaugural speech.
Inaugural speech by Prof. Dr. Tarik Zaimović, rector of the University of Sarajevo
The ceremony was completed by the performances of the string trio of professors of the Music Academy of the University of Sarajevo: violinists Tamara Arsovski and Alma Dizdar and cellist Belma Alić, and the choir of the Faculty of Catholic Theology, the University of Sarajevo under the direction of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ivan Raka.
Photos: Vanja Čerimagić
