Minister Husić-Mehmedović and Rector Škrijelj visited University of Sarajevo Theological Faculties
CS Minister of Science, Higher Education and Youth, Prof. Dr. Melika Husić-Mehmedović and University of Sarajevo Rector, Prof. Dr. Rifat Škrijelj visited with associates Faculties of Islamic Sciences and Catholic Theology on 23 April 2021.
The theological Faculties visit was organized at the very end of the activity in which Minister Husić-Mehmedović and Rector Škrijelj visited almost all University of Sarajevo Academies, Faculties and Institutes. From conversations with representatives of these Faculties it was repeatedly emphasized that theological Faculties, as full-fledged members of the University, represent one of the pronounced features of the University of Sarajevo that makes it even more competitive in domestic, regional and international frameworks.
Faculty of Islamic Sciences Dean, Prof. Dr. Zuhdija Hasanović pointed out the rich history of the Faculty, but also its current modern organization, which is reflected in the way the teaching is organized, as well as in terms of the content of curricula and domestic and international scientific research projects conducted at the Faculty. Dean Hasanović also emphasized the fact that the Faculty is recognized and appreciated in the wider European academic space.
Faculty of Dean Theology, according to its Dean, Prof. Dr. Darko Tomašević, is proud of its rich and long history in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The oldest and only Catholic Theology Faculty in Bosnia and Herzegovina is an example of a well-organized and competitive theological higher education institution.
Like other organizational units of the University of Sarajevo, theology Faculties face challenges related to solving the problem of missing teaching staff and improving the financial structure necessary for the smooth operation of the faculty. However, the deans agree in expressing satisfaction with the fact that since 2013 they have acquired the status of full members of the University. In that sense, Rector Škrijelj expressed his satisfaction because the full membership stopped unjustified discrimination of teachers and students of theological Faculties, which are invaluable for the University of Sarajevo due to their history, roots in the community and the quality of their work. A similar position was expressed by Minister Melika Husić-Mehmedović, who emphasized the readiness of the Ministry of Science, Higher Education and Youth of Sarajevo Canton to start further regulation of relations between the Ministry and theological faculties as soon as possible, which would fully agree on all aspects of cooperation between Sarajevo Canton, as the founder of the University of Sarajevo, and the Islamic and Catholic religious communities that are the founders of theological Faculties.
In the talks with the theological Faculties representatives, the satisfaction with the establishment and implementation of the postgraduate program dedicated to peace building, which is jointly implemented by three theological faculties in Bosnia and Herzegovina (along with the Faculty of Islamic Sciences and the Catholic Theological Faculty, the Orthodox Theological Faculty) unique in the world and makes an outstanding contribution to the international promotion of the University of Sarajevo.
