Minister Husić-Mehmedović and Rector Škrijelj visited University of Sarajevo Art Academies

On 10 March 2021, Minister of Science, Higher Education and Youth KS, Prof. Dr. Melika Husić-Mehmedović and University of Sarajevo rector, Prof. Dr. Rifat Škrijelj, together with Prof. Dr. Dubravka Pozderac-Lejlić, Deputy President of the Council of the Art Group, and Prof. Dr. Tamara Karača-Beljak, Vice-Rector for Arts, Culture and Sports continued visits to the University of Sarajevo organizational units and on this occasion visited its art academies - Music Academy, Academy of Performing Arts and Academy of Fine Arts.

Like previous visits to University of Sarajevo Faculties and institutes realized continuously in the past period, visits to art academies were organized to see the specific circumstances in which academies organize their work and development, and priorities and problems to be addressed through joint action of the University and the Ministry, with the aim of continuous development of the University of Sarajevo and improving the quality of higher education.

In accordance with the established practice, during the visit, the academy management was presented with current events related to the establishment of the Ministry of Science, Higher Education and Youth KS, and activities related to the preparation of a new law on higher education and the implementation of funds for science development, building scientific and artistic research capacities.
During the visit, the deans of the academies presented to Minister Husić-Mehmedović the key activities and results of their work, and especially emphasized the artistic contribution and achievements achieved through the artistic and artistic research activities of their professors, associates and students. Most of the conversation, however, was left for dialogue on the development challenges facing academies. Thus, in his presentation, the dean of the Music Academy, Prof. Dr. Ališer Sijarić, pointed out the need for the Music Academy to permanently resolve the issue of its accommodation in working spaces that will be adapted to all needs, which includes teaching at the Music Academy, and then stressed the importance of investing in modernization of instruments and other equipment necessary for optimal functioning of all teaching and artistic research processes at the Academy.
Representing the organization and work of the Academy of Performing Arts, Dean Prof. Srđan Vuletić expressed satisfaction with the fact that the construction of the new Academy building is approaching the final phase, which is a fact that further enhances the importance of quality supervision over the final works to ensure maximum functionality of the available process. All participants in the meeting were acquainted with the dynamics of preparation of the project of technical and technological equipment of the facility, which provided assistance and support to certain international agencies that are active in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Unlike the Music and the Academy of Performing Arts, the Academy of Fine Arts has resolved the issue of space, but faces the challenge of maintaining it and adapting to the needs arising from the specifics of the teaching conducted at the Academy.
In addition to the mentioned infrastructural and material-technical challenges, the deans and other present representatives of the academies emphasized other open issues that require increased engagement of the University and the Ministry, which include the area of promotion to higher academic titles, engagement of external associates, parenting issues, contributions, etc. Regarding all the highlighted issues, the Rector emphasized the common expectation of all present that the new Law on Higher Education, together with the bylaws that will follow its adoption, will properly recognize and include the specifics of art academies, which he himself continuously pointed out, fully respects and accepts. In that sense, he thanked the Minister and the Ministry for the new practice in establishing direct communication with academies, faculties and institutes, which can only contribute to better regulation of relations and development of higher education in Sarajevo Canton, but also throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina.