Thematic Session between University of Sarajevo Representatives and Cantonal Prime Minister and Minister for Education,

Science and Youth of Sarajevo Canton

The thematic session of UNSA Senate and Steering Committee took place on Friday, 13 November 2015. Mr. Elmedin Konakovic, Sarajevo Canton Prime Minister and Prof. Dr. Elvir Kazazovic, Sarajevo Canton Minister for Education, Science and attended the session. Prof. Dr. Muharem Avdispahic, HonDSc presided over the session. Along with Senators, Steering Board Chairman - Dr. Mevludin Mekic, Steering Committee members, Deans of UNSA Faculties and Academies were also present at the session.

Rector Avdispahic opened the session called on the topic “The functional integration of the University of Sarajevo - institutional autonomy and social responsibility”. Rector Avdispahic recalled that this is the second meeting between University bodies representatives with the Cantonal Government ones in this assembly. The first one took place on 22 April 2015; the past seven months were a period of intensive work, said Rector Avdispahic. He added, “In strategic terms, when it comes to the implementation of the University of Sarajevo Work Program, we have reached the finance domain. After a public hearing, the Senate determined the proposal of the Unified Rulebook on Salaries and Allowances at the University of Sarajevo, whose deliberations upon are postponed for the next Steering Committee session. The Steering Committee has determined the draft of the Ordinance on the Extra-Budgetary Funds Expenditure that was forwarded to the Ministry for further action.”

The adoption of the following documents, for the first time at the University, was also emphasized:
1.    2014 Report on the work of the integrated University of Sarajevo
2.    The Work program for the integrated University of Sarajevo in 2015
3.    Aggregated financial report of integrated the University of Sarajevo in 2014
4.    Aggregated financial plan integrated the University of Sarajevo in 2015
5.    Public procurement plan for the integrated University of Sarajevo in 2015
6.    Financial plan for the integrated University of Sarajevo for three years 2015, 2016 and 2017

Rector Avdispahic listed actions taken by the University of Sarajevo and the Sarajevo Canton Government regarding the permanent and systematic resolution of the central heating problem in the University Campus. The completion of the Academy of Performing Arts building, debt problem at the Faculty of Pharmacy, current issues related to the interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary model 4 + 1 study model at the Faculty of Political Sciences, and the election of legitimate student representatives in the Senate and the University bodies were discussed.

“We have to continue discussions opened seven months ago about the University integration process“ said Cantonal Prime Minister. He also pointed out that the cantonal government does not want to interfere in the key decisions related to the university integration processes, unless compelled.

Emphasizing the successful work of the UNSA Steering Committee, as well as the cooperation between the authorities of the University, Steering Committee President, Prof. Dr. Mevludin Mekic stressed that in the future period, the Committee  will continue its work to ensure the legality of financial and overall business of the University of Sarajevo.

When speaking about the integrative processes taking place at the University of Sarajevo, Prof. Dr. Elvir Kazazovic, Sarajevo Canton Minister for Education, Science and Youth said that founding of the committee for determining the criteria for the funding of the University of Sarajevo as a public higher education institution, was underway.

Representatives of each group of sciences/arts attended the discussion related to issues of integration’s functionality, institutional autonomy and social responsibility of the University of Sarajevo.

It was agreed to organize the next session on these and other topics in the following month.