Cooperation enhancing between the International Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies and the University of Sarajevo

Doz. Dr. Zijad Bećirović, International Institute for Middle-East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES) Director visited the University of Sarajevo Rectorate on 28 November 2019. Doz. Dr. Bećirović was hosted by the University of Sarajevo Rector, Prof. Dr. Rifat Škrijelj, Academician Dr. Mirko Pejanović, UNSA Professor Emeritus, Vice-Rectors: Prof. Drs. Dženana Husremović and Aleksandra  Nikolić, Faculty of Philosophy Dean, Prof. Dr. Muhamed Dželilović, Faculty of Political Sciences Dean, Prof. Dr. Sead Turčalo and Faculty of Criminalistics, Criminology and Security Studies Dean, Prof. Dr. Nedžad Korajlić.

Doz. Dr. Bećirović stated his support for the University of Sarajevo’s leadership in striving for the University's autonomy, and emphasized the following “In the globalized world, the role of public universities and their repositioning in the Southeastern Europe and the Western Balkans’ societies is extremely important, while respecting the fact that university must retain the autonomy of its activities, teaching and research work. Attempts made to disable or impair autonomy must be unacceptable to the wider community and as such must be rejected.”

In 2017, the University of Sarajevo (UNSA) and International Institute for Middle-East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES) signed a Cooperation Agreement in 2017 and discussed the ways for further cooperation improving.

IFIMES has a special consultative status within the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC/UN) and is the publisher of the International Scientific Journal “European Perspectives”. At the meeting was concluded that University of Sarajevo faculty members and students will have the opportunity to publish their scientific papers within this international scientific journal.
Organization of joint events (conferences, roundtables, summer schools ..), as well as joint activities within ECOSOC were also discussed. Questions and joint participation in EU projects were raised, and Director Bećirović suggested establishing cooperation between the University of Sarajevo and IFIMES partner universities in order to launch dual study programs. He also emphasized that they are looking forward to an increasing number of activities on the internationalization of the University of Sarajevo.

When speaking about cooperation with IFIMES, Rector Škrijelj emphasized that Institute and UNSA experts can make significant contribution in taking positions on some important issues the Institute deals with, as well as the contribution to the University of Sarajevo educational processes.