Summer School “Security and Resilience of Critical Infrastructure in the Digital Age” Opened

With the ceremonial opening of the summer school entitled “Security and Resilience of Critical Infrastructure in the Digital Age”, the University of Sarajevo - Faculty of Criminalistics, Criminology and Security Studies confirmed its status as a central platform for professional development, dialogue and professional upgrading on the protection of vital systems on which the functioning of modern society depends. The event attracted strong media coverage, emphasizing that the protection of critical infrastructure is a first-class national and security imperative.

The Dean of the Faculty of Criminalistics, Criminology and Security Studies, Prof. Dr. Jasmin Ahić, opened the program of this year's summer school with the message that institutions must abandon reactive models of action. He emphasized that this lifelong learning program offers a concrete response to the deficit of specialized personnel, and opens a necessary discussion on the establishment of the Law on Critical Infrastructure as a priority act for the security organization of BiH.

Prof. Dr. Kemal Durić, Vice-Rector for International Cooperation of the University of Sarajevo, spoke on behalf of the University, emphasizing the international dimension of the project and the scientific excellence that positions the University of Sarajevo as a regional leader in this field.

Edin Forto, Minister of Transport and Communications of BiH, warned that the critical infrastructure of Bosnia and Herzegovina is currently fully exposed to cyber threats. He emphasized that the professional community must articulate clear requirements that the policy will follow, because without investments in protection and an adequate legal framework, the systems on which citizens’ everyday lives depend remain undefended.

Ivica Bošnjak, Deputy Minister of Security of BiH, emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina is currently lagging behind the countries of the region when it comes to legislation on the protection of critical infrastructure. Although the Ministry of Security of BiH has taken certain steps to address this issue, he emphasized that institutional efforts cannot be isolated. He welcomed the crucial importance of the summer school as a platform for exchanging views with experts, which is an inevitable step towards the development and adoption of laws that will systematically regulate this area.

The program leader and idea creator, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kenan Hodžić, emphasized that the summer school is a multidisciplinary platform that combines academic research with the direct practice and experiences of leading world companies, where by bringing together security and other agencies, decision-makers, industrial and IT experts and students, we intend to empower participants with the competencies to analyze, plan and respond to modern challenges on which the functioning of the state and society depends.

Enes Haračić, Director of Results Consulting and co-organizer of the school, presented the operational goals in more detail, focusing on the integration of responses between the public and private sectors. Sanja Ćatibović, on behalf of the OSCE Mission to BiH, pointed out the value of a multidisciplinary approach in connecting knowledge and institutions to create a safer environment.

Representatives of leading global cybersecurity industry companies gave the event special professional credibility. Marta Rose, on behalf of TeamViewer, and Lukasz Okolski from OPSWAT, as representatives of the school's key partners, shared insights into the importance of cooperation towards the most modern methods and tools, confirming that this program directly shapes professional standards in Bosnia and Herzegovina and beyond.

The opening ceremony was rounded off by expressing gratitude to the partners whose support was of great importance for the implementation of this strategic project. Dean Prof. Dr. Jasmin Ahić presented awards to representatives of the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the United States Government Energy Sector Assistance Project (EPA), the Sarajevo International Airport Public Enterprise, and the DSC Agency for the Protection of People and Property.

The program continues through four days of intensive work, with the support of experts from Cisco, Acronis and Whalebone. It was concluded that in the digital age, resilience is an imperative that goes beyond mere reaction to incidents, and that this summer school is the foundation for a safer and more stable future for Bosnia and Herzegovina.