International Relations Office organized the meeting with Vice-deans and coordinators for International relations at University of Sarajevo

On 18 December 2019, the International Relations Office had a meeting with Vice-Deans and Coordinators for International Relations at the University of Sarajevo. The purpose of the meeting was presenting the international activities at the University of Sarajevo member units. On this occasion, the Natural-Mathematical and Biotechnical Sciences Council group presented their work:
1. Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics 
2. Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
3. Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences
4. Faculty of Forestry.

The aforementioned organizational units emphasized active participation in international networks and associations, as well as in research and educational projects, and emphasized activities in the programs of international mobility of students and staff, in particular through the programs Erasmus Mundus, Erasmus+, CEEPUS, Mevlana, DAAD and others.

The Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics emphasized the successful international cooperation with CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research), and reminded on the first Tempus projects of our University that started back in 1996 at this Faculty. The success has been demonstrated through the activities of professors emeriti who were awarded and internationally recognized for their work and success in the study studied at this Faculty. This year, the 13th Sarajevo International School of Physics was organized.

The Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology highlighted the recent successes of collaboration with the Institute of Archeology at the Faculty of Philosophy in DNA analysis of archeological specimens. It was also emphasized that the Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology was the first institute in the world to perform DNA analysis and identification of victims of the war from 1999 to 2003, and to make a significant contribution to science by developing new biomarkers for the diagnosing cancer from urine samples.

The Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences as of 2018 has its own Office for International Cooperation with a strategic focus on increasing participation in international programs. They actively participate in and contribute to the regional network of agricultural faculties, as well as through membership in the CASEE (Regional Network for Central and Southeastern Europe). This Faculty has participated in many projects within the Erasmus+ key action Capacity building, emphasizing the one coordinating project from this faculty (Western Balkan Urban Agriculture Initiative - BUGI).

The Faculty of Forestry emphasized the active involvement in the making of partnerships through international agreements with partners in Europe in order to increase the international exchange of students and staff in both directions, as well as the international cooperation with the faculties of forestry in the region (University of Ljubljana, University of Zagreb, University of Belgrade and University of Skopje). They also contribute through participation in the SILVA Network (Network for the Promotion and Facilitation of Educational Cooperation in the Forestry Area in Europe).

At previous international cooperation meetings, working groups have been formed to encourage the process of “internationalization-at-home” - activities that the University of Sarajevo is doing to improve its international study offer and present opportunities for joint work and research. At this meeting, two working groups presented their work: a Working Group for the Creation and Coordination of information exchange procedures and a Working Group for the International enrollment promotion at the University of Sarajevo. Both working groups presented their activities for better linking and exchange of information, as well as presenting the study offer in English to foreign students, whether they are coming for a one-semester exchange or for the degree.

The next meeting is planned to be organized for the second half of January 2020, when the international activities of the Council of the Arts will be presented as well as the results of other working groups comprised of the Vice-Deans and coordinators for International Relations at the University of Sarajevo.