The Senate of the University of Mostar has unanimously elected Prof. Dr. Sc. Ivo Čolak, a full professor, as the new rector of the University of Mostar for a four-year term. The other candidate was Prof. Dr. Sc. Damirka Mihaljević from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Mostar.
In his program for the 2025–2029 term, Prof. Čolak emphasizes financial stability as the primary foundation for the further development of the university, with a particular focus on student welfare and the abolition of tuition fees for students who meet their academic obligations on time. His program includes strengthening scientific excellence, increasing cooperation with the business sector, promoting national identity and culture, improving the quality of education and study efficiency, and fostering social responsibility.
Key goals include enhancing study programs, improving student standards, advancing digital transformation, and encouraging scientific projects. A significant focus is placed on better collaboration between the university and the business sector to increase student involvement, as well as additional investments in infrastructure and the expansion of spatial capacities, particularly for the Faculty of Pharmacy.
International cooperation and mobility for students and faculty will continue to be intensified through the development of new programs, including studies in foreign languages. Prof. Čolak also emphasizes the need for digitalization across all levels of education in the Croatian language in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the development of the IT sector and the university’s improved ranking on international lists.
Students remain at the center of the educational process, with the ultimate goal of providing them with high-quality education under significantly more favorable conditions. The university will continue to develop mentorship and advisory support for students, improve scholarship systems, and actively involve students in professional and economic projects. These efforts will contribute to creating a stable, dynamic, and innovative institution aligned with labor market needs and societal changes.
Prof. Dr. Sc. Ivo Čolak has been a long-standing professor and researcher at the University of Mostar, where he has been employed since 1993. He graduated from the Faculty of Civil Engineering and later from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Over the years, he has held various positions, including Vice Dean for Teaching and Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, as well as Vice Rector for Science and Development at the University of Mostar. He pursued postgraduate studies in Split and completed postdoctoral studies in Zurich. Additionally, he was a member of the Science Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Management Board of the Agency for Quality Assurance and Higher Education Development of Bosnia and Herzegovina (HEA). He has actively participated in numerous accreditation committees for higher education institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, as well as in shaping public policies and strategies in education and science. Since 2018, he has also been a full professor at the University North in Varaždin. His scientific and professional work is distinguished by a significant contribution to the development of higher education, science, and university governance at the University of Mostar.
Prof. Dr. Sc. Ivo Čolak will assume the position of rector on October 1, 2025.
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