"Can universities be the driving force for the development of their society in a poor country, a country that allocates the least funds for science and research in Europe? Can the public University of Mostar and public universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina share competitive knowledge and be internationally recognized, respected, and valued? Can universities withstand the burden of international and internal competition indefinitely?
These are just some of the questions that concern the leadership of public universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina and transition countries. Surprisingly and unrealistically, the answer to the first two questions is YES. And the real and true example is the UNIVERSITY OF MOSTAR.
In the current academic year 2023/24, the University of Mostar officially enrolled 11 percent more students than in previous years. The increase in interest in studying at the University of Mostar is the result of numerous factors, primarily the quality of education. Two recognized reaccreditations by the Agency for the Development of Higher Education and Quality Assurance of Bosnia and Herzegovina and European accreditation by the Agency for Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Croatia guarantee the quality of the educational system and indicate the application of European standards in higher education. Along with that comes competitive knowledge that can be gained by studying at the University of Mostar.
To achieve European standards in higher education, the University of Mostar is continuously growing in terms of personnel. Currently, there are 577 employees at SUM. Of these, 337 are permanently employed teachers. The number of external collaborators from the economy, public administration, the University Clinical Hospital in Mostar, or other universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and other countries engaged in teaching is 718. All these individuals guarantee the quality of education.
Successes in organization and the quality of teaching are accompanied by digital development, allowing us to become a digitally mature university. A digitally mature university means the strategic application of new digital solutions. The digital strategy of SUM guarantees that this university will be recognized as one of the leaders in digital education in the future. The University has digitized enrollment policies, replaced paper indexes with new e-identity cards, and introduced a series of new and modern e-solutions at SUM.
On the international level of strategic action, SUM currently has 271 agreements on cooperation and mobility. There is a constant increase in the number of incoming and outgoing student mobilities. This year, for the first time, the European Commission awarded the University of Mostar the Erasmus Charter in higher education for the period 2021-2027. SUM is a member of numerous international research networks, consortia, rectors' forums, etc.
International recognition is also expressed through the ranking of the world WURI - The World University for Innovation. between 100 and 200 places on the list of innovative universities in the world. In the category of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the University of Mostar is ranked 32nd. In the Crisis Management category, the University of Mostar is ranked between 51-100, receiving specific recognition for successful crisis management during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The University of Mostar is included in the 494th place in the QS World University Rankings: Europe. The University of Mostar also applied to the Times Higher Education: Impact Rankings, a global ranking that ranks universities based on the implementation of sustainable development goals, currently involving 1,705 prominent universities from 115 countries worldwide.
In addition to some of the mentioned activities, SUM becomes a kind of brand. Through its activities in culture, sports, numerous conferences, events, lifelong education, community work, and for the community, SUM shows its soul and commitment to the future and continuous growth.
In the end, let's go back to the beginning and the question 'Can universities withstand the burden of international and internal competition indefinitely?', the answer is HARD or NO.
Neglect and insensitivity of founders, all institutions in the responsibility spectrum for higher education have touched the point not only of lack of perspective but also of gradual abolition or destruction of higher education institutions. Such a state of neglect must change. It must change not only for the survival and development of universities but also for the development of society, the state, and especially for the perspective of young people and their stay in the most beautiful country in the world - Bosnia and Herzegovina. And finally, as I started with questions, I will end with a question: Can someone be a public university by definition if the public authorities finance it with 22 percent?"
*The text was translated by artificial intelligence.
