The TRAIN First Program Cycle at the University Of Sarajevo in the 2014/2015 Academic Year Started 

The implementation of the first cycle of the TRAIN program (Training and Research for Academic Newcomers) started at the University of Sarajevo on 22 September 2014. The TRAIN program has seven modules whose content are focused on improving knowledge and skills in areas such as teaching, research, and communication.

UNSA Vice-Rector for Research, Prof. Dr. Faruk Mekic  greeted attendees, and pointed out that the TRAIN program, which includes the University of Sarajevo, is financially supported by the King Baudouin Foundation (KBF) from Brussels. “The TRAIN involves the implementation of training for academic staff at four Western Balkans universities: Universities of Sarajevo, Belgrade, Novi Sad University and University of Montenegro” said Vice-Rector Mekic.

The participants TRAIN are members of the UNSA academic staff in the following titles: assistant professor, senior assistant and assistant. As part of the TRAIN, participants will gain new knowledge and skills that will improve their teaching practice, research and everyday communication. Also, the program aims to enhance cooperation between the junior academic staff in the Western Balkans in a way that encourages the development of their networking and improving their capacities for entrepreneurial leadership, which will enable them to positively affect change. The expected program rollout is academic staff that has acquired the skills needed for the development of their universities and society as a whole, through education, research and innovation.

Program partners are University of Ghent, University of Kent, University of Uppsala, “La Sapienza” University in Rome, UP Transfer GmbH, Santander Group, King Baudouin Foundation, Universities of Sarajevo, Belgrade, Novi Sad and University of Montenegro.

The program’s duration is three years, from September 2013 to September 2016. One of the goals is creating the conditions for sustainability, which is task of “educated/trained staff.” TRAIN’s seven modules are going to be implemented during the 2014/2015 academic year. The modules will be implemented in three cycles: September/October 2014, January/February 2015 and June/July 2015.