Meeting between ambassador of Australia to Bosnia and Herzegovina and UNSA Rector - Memorandum of Understanding between RMIT and UNSA Signed

Newly appointed ambassador of Australia to Bosnia and Herzegovina, H.E. Ian David Grainge Biggs visited the University of Sarajevo on Wednesday, 8 November 2023, where he met with Rector, Prof. Dr. Rifat Škrijelj. Ambassador Biggs was accompanied by Declan Connor, second secretary of the Embassy, and Nada Muster, professional associate, and the University delegation, in addition to Rector Škrijelj, consisted of Vice-Rector for International Cooperation, Prof. Dr. Enita Nakaš and Vice-Rector for Finance, Prof. Dr. Tarik Zaimović. The meeting was also attended by Prof. Dr. Hariz Halilović, award-winning anthropologist and author, professor of global studies at RMIT University, and Dr. Adis Elias Fejzić, sculptor and visual artist, assistant at RMIT University.

Achieving cooperation between the Australian Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the University of Sarajevo, and academic cooperation between universities in Australia and the University of Sarajevo were just some of the topics during the first visit of Ambassador Biggs to the University of Sarajevo.

Special attention was paid to the cooperation between RMIT University and the University of Sarajevo, made official by the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between these two higher education institutions in October of this year. The memorandum aims to enable research cooperation, exchange of teachers and staff members, exchange of students, special academic programs, projects and other activities, and cooperation through joint projects and mentoring.

During the meeting, the importance of investing in education and culture was highlighted, and the importance of inter-university cooperation, as well as joint work in the fields of culture, science and education, was emphasized.

Ambassador Biggs emphasized that services in the education sector have a significant share in total Australian exports, which makes inter-university cooperation one of the priorities of Australian foreign policy. At the same time, according to the words of Ambassador Biggs, Australia does not want to be a country that permanently retains students and experts from other countries, but a space for the exchange of students and teachers and the realization of joint scientific research projects. Regarding the establishment of academic cooperation between Australia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador Biggs emphasized the multicultural character of both communities, stressing that understanding the essence of multiculturalism will facilitate all forms of joint action and work. Successful cooperation with RMIT University is certainly an introduction to cooperation with other Australian universities, Ambassador Biggs pointed out.

Rector Škrijelj pointed out that cooperation with RMIT University represents a key step for the University of Sarajevo. “Its importance lies, not only in strengthening our academic capacity, but also in promoting understanding and friendship between our students and teachers with their Australian counterparts. In this globalized era, such connections become crucial for the development of education and the promotion of a culture of dialogue.”

He also reminded that the first steps towards achieving this cooperation were made thanks to Prof. Ph.D. Hariz Halilović, award-winning anthropologist and author, and professor of global studies at RMIT University, when in July of this year RMIT professors and students stayed at the University of Sarajevo as part of a study visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and had the opportunity to learn about the development and activities of the University and attended the lecture “Learning and witnessing: Genocide in Srebrenica in the eyes of Bosnian and Australian students”.

Considering the prestige and reputation that RMIT University enjoys as one of the leading Australian universities, Rector Škrijelj emphasized that the cooperation with RMIT University is extremely important for the University of Sarajevo. He also expressed his satisfaction, but also gratitude, for the support that RMIT University professors provide to the University of Sarajevo through cooperation with the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies “Prof. Dr. Zdravko Grebo” and the Global Studies program.

Prof. Dr. Hariz Halilović expressed his satisfaction that Ambassador Biggs, in his first official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, also visited the University of Sarajevo and confirmed the importance of academic cooperation between Australia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. “I would like to remind you that the ties between scientists and students between our two countries have existed for many years and are still developing, and the members of Bosnia and Herzegovina play an important role in this. diaspora in Australia. The signed Memorandum of Understanding between RMIT and UNSA will greatly facilitate and formalize existing and new activities between our two universities, as well as academic exchanges between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Australia,” emphasized Professor Halilović.

After the constructive discussions of Ambassador Biggs, Rector Škrijelj, and associates, it was concluded that the cooperation between RMIT University and the University of Sarajevo represents an important step towards strengthening ties between Australia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the field of higher education, which will have a long-term positive impact on the academic community of both countries. Cooperation between these two institutions is expected, which will contribute to the development of education and the promotion of cultural diversity.

The Memorandum between RMIT University and the University of Sarajevo is currently the only valid Memorandum between a university from Bosnia and Herzegovina and a university in Australia.