University of Sarajevo

University of Sarajevo

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University of Sarajevo

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The University of Sarajevo (Bosnian: Sarajevski Univerzitet) is the first university in Bosnia-Herzegovina, originally established in 1543, with the modern university being reestablished in 1943. Today, having 23 faculties and 55,000 enrolled students, it ranks among the largest universities in the world in terms of enrollment.

History and Profile
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History and Profile

The original establishment of the University of Sarajevo dates back to the 16th century, as an Ottoman institute of higher education. It was called the Ottoman Medresa of Sarajevo and was recognized as a university within the confines of the Ottoman Empire, the Islamic world, and several European countries. It lost this status in the 19th century, leaving Bosnia without a university till 1946, when the modern University of Sarajevo was established. It is now the biggest and most prestigious university in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and is one of the largest in the world.

The modern history of the Sarajevo University began with the establishment of the first secular institutions of higher education prior to World War II as well as during the war (the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry in 1940, the Medical Faculty in 1944). The Medical Faculty was re-established in 1946, the Faculty of Law, the Teacher Training College were opened and in 1948 the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry was re-established.

In 1949 the Engineering Faculty was opened. On the December 2nd of that same year with the appointment of the first rector, the University of Sarajevo was established. With the opening of the Faculty of Philosophy (1950) and the Faculty of Economics (1952) the first, initial phase of establishment of the Sarajevo University was completed.

The second phase of development (1955-1969) was characterized by the affirmation of the university, the opening of new institutions of higher education and the relative satisfaction of the needs for highly educated personnel in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Another significant achievement is the organization and initiation of postgraduate studies at the University.

The third phase (1970-1982) was defined by more institutions of higher education being opened at the University, a scientific promotion of the University and its intensified involvement and promotion on the international academic plane. The University contributed directly and indirectly to the establishment of new universities in Banja Luka, Mostar and Tuzla.

The fourth phase (1982-1992) was characterised by the separation of scientific activities from the University and the formation of favouritised scientific institutes outside the University. This brought considerable damage to the University of Sarajevo, because the coherence of university education and scientific research was jeopardised. This resulted in a lower quality of education and a technological stagnation of the University. The uncontrolled enrolment of an enormous number of students resulted in a significantly lower efficiency of studies and a hyper-production of personnel in certain educational areas.

The fifth phase (1992-1995) was marked by devastation of the facilities and equipment of the University, caused by the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the siege of Sarajevo.

Despite all of these difficulties of life and work during the four year-long siege of Sarajevo, with the help and the enthusiasm, professional attitude, patriotism and perseverance of university teachers and associates as well as the students, the University of Sarajevo managed to retain its continuity of work and life. This was a specific aspect of intellectual, academic resistance towards everything that is barbaric and against civilisation, the University's contribution to the affirmation of freedom and democracy, the defence against aggression and fascism and the affirmation of the statehood of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

At the beginning of 1996, the University of Sarajevo entered the phase of post-war physical and academic renewal and reconstruction. The physical renewal is aimed at the reconstruction of devastated and the rebuilding of destroyed facilities (through the realisation of the New University Campus Project), the replacement of destroyed educational and scientific equipment and the reconstruction of student dormitories. Significant results have been achieved on this plane and the conditions for higher quality studies have been formed.

The process of renewal and reconstruction of the University is supported by the activities of the European University Association, the European Council, the European Union as well as a whole line of international organisations and institutions involved in the field of higher education.

The University of Sarajevo has partner relations with over forty Universities in Europe, USA, Canada and the Arab countries.

The main objective of all its current activities is to raise the quality of studies and to create a contemporary university of European provenance which will be a respectable representative of Bosnia-Herzegovina on an international level and a promoter of traditional, historical, cultural, scientific and artistic values of this part of Europe.