Rector Tomić: We are Developing a Modern European and World University

During a recent visit to the University of Mostar, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia Gordan Grlić Radman, PhD, said that he was "impressed by the activities at the University of Mostar". Can we recognize the growth of the University and its meaning in this sentence?

Minister Grlić Radman gave an excellent lecture at the University of Mostar on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Dayton Agreement. On that occasion, we talked about the work of the University. He gave great remarks in the closed part of the meeting and we are very proud of that. Well-meaning people notice valuable things. They recognize European values ​​and standards at the University. We are happy about that.

We are in a challenging time affected by the global coronavirus pandemic. How does the university operate in these conditions?

This is a very challenging time for the academic community. It is not easy to find the optimal model and reconcile several conflicting expectations. But accountability to students, administrative staff and teachers is crucial. There are many who selfishly look at these processes. They have no responsibility and try to be smarter than everyone. The university on that side is in constant internal dialogue and we are looking for models of optimal performance.

In accordance with the orders of the Crisis Staff, you have adopted procedures for monitoring the situation and taking measures for COVID-19 pandemic. How do they work?

The Senate of the University of Mostar adopted the Response Crisis Plan and appointed the bodies defined by the order of the Crisis Staff of the Federal Ministry of Health, related to the appointment of an operational team to monitor the implementation of the COVID-19 Response Crisis Plan at the University of Mostar. In coordination with inter-university cooperation and the Operational Team for Monitoring the implementation of the Response Crisis Plan to COVID-19, we established a system of digital records of the COVID-19.

What is the goal of the Crisis Plan?

The adoption of the Crisis Plan aims to monitor the situation and take measures to prevent and detect early cases of COVID-19 disease, raise and promote awareness of employees, students, engaged external staff and other stakeholders to minimize the infection. Of course, the plan includes implementation of curricula and programmes in the best possible way, ensuring the achievement of learning outcomes and the realization of the vision, mission and goals of the University of Mostar and all its components. The Crisis Plan defined the organization of work and working hours, SUM bodies and faculties that monitor the epidemiological situation, the organization of classes, preventive epidemiological measures, record keeping, information system and monitoring the implementation of the Crisis Plan. That process works.

How does teaching work in such conditions?

The University Senate adopted a combined teaching model in September. We believe this is the only possible module in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The same models are applied by all universities and universities in B&H, Croatia, the surrounding area, but also in Europe and the world. In such conditions at the University, due to the division of students into groups according to the prescribed epidemiological measures, classroom teaching is reduced in accordance with the available space. In doing so, we took strict measures to maintain teaching in the classical form in the premises of organizational units with programmes in which it is mandatory to perform practical exercises and exams to achieve learning outcomes and competencies. Therefore, it can be said with certainty that the pandemic did not jeopardize the implementation of practical classes in laboratories, classrooms and workshops, but it remained of the same quality as before.

Online teaching?

Online teaching is performed in an online environment, to the extent that it is not possible to teach in the classical form. The possibility of holding classes in the classical form, in addition to the already mentioned spatial limitations, is certainly influenced by solutions on isolation and health conditions of teaching staff, but also students.

How do you evaluate the results of such teaching?

The teaching process and contacts with students in the online environment have become commonplace and give good results. It is important to say that online teaching involves teaching that is conducted using online platforms and tools for teaching purposes so that students have the opportunity to communicate with teaching staff in REAL-TIME. This is exactly the feature that is common to online and classical teaching, where online teaching provides additional opportunities to create and share teaching materials in various forms and formats. Processes are enriched with new methods and contents.

You organize workshops regularly to maintain the quality of teaching?

In order to improve the quality of online teaching, regular workshops are held with teaching staff, records are kept, and some organizational units conducted surveys on student satisfaction with online teaching, which showed that most students are generally satisfied with the quality of online teaching. Systematic assessment of the quality of the teaching process at all levels (study programme, organizational unit, University) will be conducted at the end of the semester, through a regular student survey on the quality of teaching, where all students at the University, voluntarily and anonymously, will be able to evaluate each teacher in each course.

Establishing new international partnerships through the signing of a memorandum of cooperation is one of the strategic goals set in the Development Strategy of the University of Mostar?

Today, the University of Mostar has 68 different forms of Memorandum of Cooperation, signed with respectable institutions from our environment, the whole of Europe and the world. In the past academic year, we signed 12 agreements with international institutions of higher education, thus opening many opportunities for our University, primarily for students by joining the world space of higher education. We have agreements with universities from the United States, Austria, Italy, China, Slovenia, Germany, Great Britain, Russia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Romania, India, Poland, the Republic of Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, etc.

I would like to emphasize the cooperation agreement with St. John’s University, a university with a 150-year history that offers over 100 majors on seven campuses, including three located in New York City. This is the first agreement between the University of Mostar and the higher education institution of the United States of America.

That's not all?

The last signed agreement is with the Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture from China. It is one of the most famous universities in this field and its tradition dates back to 1907. Within the signed agreement, we established academic cooperation in the exchange of teaching staff and students, work on joint projects and exchange of experiences on important academic issues, but also opened the possibility of access to world university networks.

Also, an agreement was recently signed with Western Caspian University in Azerbaijan, which consists of eight faculties and 11 departments, and most of the classes are conducted in English. According to various criteria, Western Caspian University ranks in the top ten best newly established universities in this geographical area. An agreement is being signed with the University of Trakya, Turkey, as well as the application of the University to join the Balkan Universities Association (BUA), which has 79 members, and aims to create a scientific network in the fields of language, culture, art, history, economy education and sports and conducting collaborative scientific papers in these areas.

What is the international exchange like at the University of Mostar?

Although the exchange of staff at the University of Mostar takes place within several programs and agreements, the Erasmus program is at the heart of the whole idea of ​​internationalization. Looking at the results of the first two years of participation in this program 2015-2017 (96 mobility exchanges), in the next two years 2017-2019, the number of mobility increased by more than 50% (181 mobility exchange). Looking back on the previous academic year, the most affected activity by the pandemic is mobility exchange of students, academic and non-academic staff. In the first semester of the last academic year, staff mobility continued to show a large growth trend, but most of the mobility that was supposed to take place during the pandemic is now planned for the new upcoming semesters. 29 academic and non-academic mobilities were realized last year. At the beginning of the current academic year, 4 mobilities were realized, while 36 already allocated mobilities will be realized in the continuation of the academic year if the situation allows.

You constantly point out the importance of student and teacher mobility?

The strategic plan to increase student mobility, i.e. to double the number compared to last year, has been realized, despite unfavourable circumstances. In the previous year, 45 student mobilities were realized, 19 students started their mobility in the current academic year, and today we have 13 nominees for the next semester. The number of available mobilities for our University for 2020/2021, both for students and staff is increasing every day, as the results of the last call under the Erasmus programme arrive, it is currently about 40 student and about 50 staff mobility exchanges. Although we are faced with difficult conditions in a pandemic, mobility exchange at the University is also active through the CEEPUS network, a Central European exchange programme for university studies.

What about international projects?

The University has certainly gained experience through work on 44 European Erasmus projects that strengthen the teaching, curricular, management and infrastructure capacities of the University and modernize the University following generally accepted European standards. Currently, 13 such projects are active. Dedicated work in the field of project activities has resulted in great success. Thus, within the Erasmus+ programme Capacity Building in the field of Higher Education, SUM received five new projects in 2020. There are four projects in which the University is a partner, but for the first time, a project was approved for which the University of Mostar is the main coordinator of the consortium, which consists of 19 partners. The project aims to provide a practical solution to help close the gap between industrial needs, expectations and outcomes of the education system, creating an STE(A)M Master’s degree. The consortium will transfer significant knowledge from the European education system that the partner country's institutions will use to design an advanced, practical Master Curriculum for STE(A)M education.

International networks?

Today, the University is active in eight international networks and associations. We participate in the work of the Danube Rectors' Conference, the Association of European Universities EUA, the Rectors' Conference of the University of the Alps-Adriatic Region, the UniAdrion network and EUCEN of the European University Network for Lifelong Learning. The University of Mostar is an associate member of the Rectors' Assembly of the Republic of Croatia. In 2018, we also joined the Francophone University Agency, which brings together 1,007 university institutions on all continents in 119 countries.

Following an agreement signed with Beijing University of Civil Engineering & Architecture, the University was invited to join the international consortium Belt and Road Architectural University Consortium (BRAUIC). This international consortium was established at Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture with the aim of building a platform for university communication, collaboration and researching an innovative development mechanism for architectural disciplines and universities. The consortium currently has 57 members. The University of Mostar, after Beijing, Kuala Lumpur and Moscow, will be the co-organizer and host of the annual international conference of this consortium in 2021.

The first postulate of any University is excellence and outcomes are partly visible through the accreditation and re-accreditation processes of the competent agencies. What are the recommendations for quality improvement?

In the last academic year, the University successfully passed the process of institutional re-accreditation of the Agency for Development of Higher Education and Quality Assurance of B&H, based on which in February 2020 it received a decision on institutional re-accreditation from the competent Ministry. Out of ten criteria for accreditation, the Report of the Committee of Experts assessed that the University fully meets seven criteria, and they relate to quality assurance policy, development and approval of programs, learning, teaching and evaluation focused on students, student enrollment and progress, learning resources and student support, information management, and periodic external quality assurance. Three criteria are significantly met. These are fascinating results and recognition.

Do you participate in the work of the Rectors' Assembly of the Republic of Croatia?

That's right, we have excellent cooperation with all public universities in the Republic of Croatia. We are grateful to the rectors of public universities for the great support reflected in the exchange of teachers, research projects, international and cross-border projects, etc. We are especially grateful to the rector of the University of Zagreb, Prof Damir Boras, PhD, for his great and selfless help in the development of the University of Mostar. All rectors of universities in Croatia are our friends and are always ready to help. In addition to the rector, I would like to emphasize the importance of the support of the Agency for Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Croatia, headed by ProfJasmina Havranek, PhD.

The Agency for Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Croatia is responsible for the international external evaluation of the University of Mostar?

It is true and we are extremely grateful for that help and opening windows to Europe and the world. In 2017, the Agency for Higher Education of the Republic of Croatia implemented an international external evaluation of the University of Mostar and all its organizational units, which resulted in a positive report of the commission of international experts and giving recommendations for quality improvement. The experience gained in this process was valuable for the improvement of all activities at the University and better preparation for re-accreditation from our state Agency. Consultations are underway for a re-process of international external evaluation by the Higher Education Agencies of the Republic of Croatia, which should include doctoral studies. Excellent cooperation with the Agency for Higher Education of the Republic of Croatia is also evident through the professional support of the Agency's employees in the processes at the University and the free access of our employees to their thematic training sessions and workshops.

Similar cooperation is with the Rector's Assembly of B&H?

I am very happy with the way we work together, how we help each other and how much we understand each other. There is great collegiality and even friendship between us. In the Rector's Assembly of B&H, we decide by consensus, and that is how we behave. We are ready to help each other. It should be noted that the University of Mostar cooperates with about 50 teachers from all public universities in B&H.

It is known that you are a member of the European University Association?

The University participates almost in all significant academic and scientific gatherings in the world. We are regular at the annual conferences of the European University Association. We participated in the last conference held at the Sorbonne in Paris and the election of the new leadership of the EAU. The University of Mostar is on the world list of universities. We are respected and invited to work with the greatest.

The University of Mostar also operates through its two dislocated centres in Posavina and Central Bosnia?

This is a strategic area of ​​our activity, and in the wake of that, we made decisions on the establishment of university centres in Posavina and Central Bosnia. Today, the University Center Posavina offers classes in the study of social work at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, computer science and preschool education at the Faculty of Science, Mathematics and Education, undergraduate and graduate law studies, and we enrolled the first generation in nursing at the Faculty of Health Studies. In Central Bosnia, the study of Economics conducts its professional study programme.

Have you developed a significant network of teaching bases at the University of Mostar? Is it cooperation with institutions?

Exactly, we have developed a network of teaching bases or organizations from different fields of activity, and we connect practice, science and art. The curriculum is the opening of the University to the economy, to develop the transfer of knowledge in synergy - and in two directions. This improves the quality of studying, enables the realization of student internships under the mentorship of employees of these institutions, and joint scientific and professional projects. 137 agreements have been signed at the university with teaching bases and other organizations.

A significant number of new study programmes have been launched at the University?

In the past period, new study programmes have been adopted, which strengthen higher education with new educational content. These are four undergraduate study programmes, i.e. study programmes of architecture and urbanism, fine arts, public administration, geodesy and geoinformatics, nine graduate study programmes: painting, sculpture, graphics, graphic design, transport and logistics - road transport, electrical engineering, criminology and security management, food technology - the direction of nutrition. An integrated study of medicine in English and two doctoral studies in Civil Engineering (in Croatian and English) and an Interdisciplinary Doctoral Study programme at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences were launched. What the University has always lacked (in the past 43 years), we got today. With this academic year, the graduate study of Video Editing and Directing as the impetus for the development of the University towards the seventh art has finally been opened at the University, i.e. the Academy of Fine Arts. Prominent film names from the area teach at the studio.

Do you regularly conduct audits of existing study programmes?

In addition to the adoption of new study programmes, the University regularly conducted audits of existing study programmes. Besides, a decision was made at the Senate session on the means of keeping, appearance and content of the register of all study programmes conducted at the University of Mostar. It will be published in Croatian and English, thus ensuring their visibility and transparency. Teaching process at the University of Mostar in the coming period will be marked by intensified collaborative processes to connect university teaching and the needs of the economy and social environment.

You particularly emphasize the importance of studying medicine in English?

The study of Medicine in English was launched in the academic year 2018/2019, and was accredited by the Agency for Science and Higher Education from the Republic of Croatia. All diplomas of the Faculty of Medicine are recognized in the European Union and beyond. We have three generations of students, a total of about 50 students. The students mostly come from Croatia and Germany, and we have one student each from Sweden, Italy and the United States. The Faculty of Medicine is continuously working on networking with European and world institutions.

One such example is the recently signed collaboration agreement with StudiMed, a German organization that works with over 30 universities across Europe?

Based on the agreement, the Faculty of Medicine of SUM will organize the pre-clinical part of the medicine study programme in English in the German branch in the premises of StudiMed in Cologne, Germany, while Mostar teachers will be responsible for teaching. Responsibility for the content of the curriculum remains within the competence of the Faculty of Medicine and will be applied exclusively according to B&H regulations on education and exams. All students who complete the preclinical part of medical studies (the first three years of study) in Germany continue their studies at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Mostar. This agreement laid the foundation for the establishment of a teaching base in Germany, which represents a major step forward for the University in terms of internationalization and increasing the international visibility and reputation of the University of Mostar at the international level.

Doctoral studies at the Faculty of Civil Engineering are also conducted in English?

From the academic year 2018/2019, the Faculty of Civil Engineering conducts postgraduate studies in Croatian and English. All of them are former students, and a colleague who is working on a doctoral dissertation in English has been living in the USA for three years, and her defence of the topic of her doctoral dissertation is also the first online defence at the University. Upon completion of the study programme, competencies are acquired for leading scientific development based on new technologies, introducing new scientific approaches based on design and research, as well as scientific planning and decision-making using the latest scientific methods of information collection, processing and analysis.

The Academy of Fine Arts is a great asset of the University. They are continuously working on better study conditions, new workshops have been opened. What is it about?

The Academy is the heart of the University. In the academic year 2019/2020, metal and glass processing workshops were launched, within which a foundry and a stained glass workroom were built. Metal and glass processing rooms for Academy students are spaces for creating new works of art. They serve student internships and are open to collaboration with the economy and other artists who can create their works of art in them, as well as educate themselves through practical application. The workshops, first of all, enable students to apply practical knowledge and skills acquired through theoretical teaching and further strengthen student internship at ALU, which is of great importance for the form of teaching performed at ALU because practical teaching is the most common form of teaching. Their launch also opens the possibility of cooperation with the economy, which represents the expansion of the Academy's activities to the extracurricular sector.

Speaking of art, the first university colony was organized, and the University Gallery was announced?

The University Gallery is a project of exceptional identity importance which, although conceived much earlier, is now experiencing its realization. In a concrete sense, it is a building in Rodoč that was adapted to accommodate our printing house and the University Gallery. When the works are soon completed, it will be the most modern exhibition space in Herzegovina, modular and adaptable even for complex art projects. It will have its collection, offices, a specialized library for art history, which already has 800 titles, and a museum storage room for the storage of works of art with all the safety and conservation conditions. The gallery will be a teaching base, but also a generator of international student internship programmes through summer schools and exchanges. We plan to open it in December with an exhibition of our Academy of Fine Arts, and in the future to organize only three to four thematic and monographic exhibitions per year according to strict criteria of excellence, but also a good catalogue, elaborate exhibition, museography aids. We want to position it as a place of excellence that complements and refines our core mission. In the spiritual and intellectual sense, therefore the most important, we see the University Gallery as a temple in which we preserve the soul of Croatian art of the 20th century, i.e. the identity that defines us as a nation.

Are you also establishing a Center for Doctoral Studies?

The University of Mostar is in the final phase of opening another important institution, the Center for Doctoral Studies and its opening aims to harmonize the rules and procedures of studying in the third cycle (enrollment in doctoral studies, teaching in the third cycle, the appointment of mentors, application and dissertation defence…), systematic monitoring of information collection procedures and activities for the improvement of study programmes in our doctoral studies, and coordinated development and raising the quality of third-cycle study programmes in organizational units.

What are the ranking activities at the University?

Intensive work is also being done to raise the ranking of SUM on world rankings. A team has been formed that monitors all ranking parameters daily and continuously collects data for various applications because individual scales and application forms have quite demanding criteria. Some of the prestigious rankings of world universities we strive for are THE - Times Higher Education World University Ranking and QS World University Rankings, where the University was first included in the QS EECA University rankings for 2019 between positions 251 and 300. Rankings in which we are constantly making progress is Webometrics - Ranking Web Of Universities, which was reflected in the work of the university IT centre - SUMIT, where we are currently in 4767th place out of over 28,000 ranked higher education institutions, 1388 in Europe. For the first time, we are included in the UI Green Metric World University Rankings, which ranks universities specifically according to the sustainability of the campus, in 754th place, as the only one in B&H.

Have you created a register of scientific papers and projects?

For the first time at the University of Mostar, a register of scientific research projects and a register of works by SUM employees and associates were prepared and presented. In addition to the function of informing the public about the published works of employees of the University of Mostar, the purpose of the Register is to monitor the scientific productivity of employees due to the need for internal and external verification. The register is also designed as a digital repository within which there is a possibility of storing entire papers indexed in the database, as well as storing final and diploma theses and doctoral dissertations of students at the University of Mostar. The works of teachers and mentors in co-authorship with students and graduates were additionally scored.

The university printing house began to work. It will be opened soon. You also publish a significant number of journals at SUM?

Within the University Publishing House PRESSUM, a modern electronic printing house of the University of Mostar on Campus II in Rodoč has been completed. The printing house will make it much easier to print all editions of our teachers and University publications at affordable prices. Also, the University of Mostar publishes 16 scientific and scientific-professional journals, which will now be more available in printed form. The printing house is equipped with modern electronic equipment and our first printed matter has already been "published". The official opening will be held as part of the University Day.

You are in the process of modernizing SUM TV. Is it a unique university project?

The University Television SUM TV was opened, through which the teaching process was also held during COVID-19 pandemic, not only at the University, but also in all educational institutions in the Croatian language in B&H. We have provided all the technical, spatial and personnel conditions, procured new modern equipment, built three television studios and our University Television is ready to keep up with all modern televisions. The goal is to focus on the educational programme and create a new dimension when it comes to modern educational processes. Considering the epidemiological recommendations, numerous activities of the University will be held and broadcasted live on SUM TV. In this way, we have the opportunity to show and bring our University closer to an even wider audience. SUM TV is certainly one of our advantages that brings the University of Mostar to the world level and brings refreshment to the media scene. In the coming period, we will continue to develop it, even more, calls for cooperation have been sent to everyone and we are glad that we have shown in this field how much we all know and can do at the University of Mostar.

In addition to television, the University Media Center is in the process of development, which will unite all university media?

The Media Center of the University of Mostar will unite the university television SUM TV, university radio, Universitas Mostariensis, which we publish in cooperation with Večernji list B&H, and 11 issues have been published so far. The university news portal Sova will soon start operating, which will be a news platform from all over the University and a kind of news agency and source of information for other media. The University of Mostar, with its 11 components, operates daily intending to encourage scientific development and affirmation of positive social values, which results in a multitude of socially important information. To ensure a higher degree of coordination between the newly established university and student media and other parts of the University and to achieve optimal media coverage of the University of Mostar. It should result in raising and preserving the reputation in the public and to provide students of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences with even more practical journalistic knowledge and experience which would enable further progress in ensuring the highest standards of study. Therefore, it is necessary to systematically organize the activities of the newly established and pre-established media of the University of Mostar that will operate within the SUM Media Center.

How do you describe the cooperation with the Student Council of the University of Mostar?

In consultations with the Student Council of the University, legal acts were adopted which regulate numerous issues of organization and rights of students. Rulebook on the Student Council of the University of Mostar, Rulebook on Student Elections, Rulebook on Financing Student Projects and Rulebook on the Allocation of One-Time Financial Grants. The decisions of the Faculty related to the exemption from paying for the issuance of certificates and the use of the library fund were also adopted.

Every year, the Student Council of the University of Mostar awards one-time financial aid to students in a state of social need. To ensure social justice and the need to increase the availability of higher education to students of lower socioeconomic status, at the organizational units of the University of Mostar 72 students were exempted from paying tuition fees in full, 13 students partially, and at the Faculty of Health Studies 117 tuition fees were reduced by 130 KM.

You were the first in the environment to announce the abolition of the index in the classical sense?

This project was created on the initiative of the Student Council of the University of Mostar from the next academic 2021/2022. The index will be abolished as a public document, and students will have a student card that will include the eIndex along with other digital services. The University of Mostar is building an e-University, a period that begins with the introduction of a student card, which will reduce costs primarily for students since the cards will be free. The Center for Information Technologies will work out the phases of the project of introducing a student ID card in a year, and the security of student data will be in the first place. The student ID card is a document that proves the status of a student and will enable faster and simpler work of student offices, smaller queues and waiting, the possibility of use in other locations and much more convenient to carry in relation to the index. The classical index is already a thing of the past at most European universities, and building a modern and European university is one of the steps towards that.

One of the strategic goals of the University relates to students with disabilities?

In the past, we have provided teaching assistants to these students and exempted them from paying tuition fees; adjusted the approach for the new Office for Students with Disabilities and initiated activities to remove architectural barriers; the realization of the conclusion on the placement of inscriptions in Braille at all organizational units and the Rectorate is in progress.

The University also has top athletes. What is the attitude towards them?

Sports success, winning medals and awards are an important part of the image of the University of Mostar and our sports tradition. For the first time, the Senate passed the Rulebook on the study of top athletes, which regulates the rights, obligations and duties of students of top athletes, and ensures the harmonization of sports obligations according to the organizational unit in which they study. This institutionally solves the problems of student-athletes at the University and enables them to successfully organize their studies in addition to top sports. The University continuously encourages and helps sports and its student-athletes by supporting participation in competitions, and last year at the European University Games in Martial Arts held in Zagreb, judo player Petar Zadro won a gold medal and karate player Marin Brkić a bronze medal for the University of Mostar. Also prominent are our other individual students in these and other sports who win European and world medals, and play sports in university clubs, in clubs under the auspices of the Student Center or in clubs that have very good cooperation with the University and which the University of Mostar helps. The University of Mostar was also the organiser of the international scientific-professional conference "Sport and Communication", which was attended by eminent names from the world of science and sports. At the next session of the Senate, it is planned to establish the Sports Federation of the University of Mostar, which will give even greater impetus and help the development of sports at the university, both top and amateur, and in some way promote our study of kinesiology at the Faculty of Science and Education of the University of Mostar. Creating conditions for the continuation of achieving top sports results of student-athletes is one of the basic principles on which the future development of sports at the University of Mostar should be based.

Career counselling for students has been formed?

With the aim of supporting students of the University of Mostar in career planning and guidance, a Career Counseling Center for Students was established at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, which today operates within the University. The plan is to establish a Student Counseling Center that will coordinate and direct the systematic provision of support to students within the academic, career, psychological and personal counselling and guidance, and other necessary areas of support to empower students to successfully study and master academic obligations and teach them life and business skills.

The two campuses of the University have been modernized in the past period. Important infrastructure projects are also underway, what awaits us?

During this year, significant changes were made to the campus of the University of Mostar. The campus is now completely covered with modern surveillance cameras to increase security. Accordingly, the University of Mostar inspected all entrance doors and entrance markings. In addition to the previously completed lighting, these procedures have created a safer and tidier campus. Cases of vandalism that were present before are no longer happening, and the campus is still open to all students, citizens and recreationists.

Furthermore, the decoration phase of the central amphitheatre has been completed on campus. In the beautiful atmosphere of the open amphitheatre, in compliance with all epidemiological measures, the first open-air promotion was held on the Campus, the promotion of graduates of the Faculty of Pharmacy, which has been unthinkable so far. The plan is to install benches by the end of the year and complete the extension of the SUM TV facility.

Campus Rodoč?

The University of Mostar continued its infrastructural activities on the Rodoč campus, where the project of building the University Printing House was completed. In accordance with the completion of the infrastructure work, machines for the operation of the printing house and the training of staff who will work on printing machines were procured. In addition to the University Printing House, the final works of the University Gallery and the environmental arrangement of the campus are in progress. The project documentation for the SUMIT facility, i.e. the university centre for information technologies on the campus in Rodoč, has been completed, and the procedure for installing the opening is in the final procurement procedure. The goal is to get a regional education centre, to digitize the entire vertical of education in the Croatian language in B&H and to be a partner of IT companies in the development of IT technologies.

Is the University Sports Center located on the Rodoč campus?

The Faculty of Science and Education in Campus 2 - Rodoč has three halls, a football field with 4 athletic tracks, basketball, handball, volleyball, tennis courts, and an indoor and outdoor pool. Hall 1 for ball sports, Hall 2 for Martial Arts and Sports Gymnastics and the Dance Hall located within the teaching building. Sports halls, courts and swimming pool are used by a large number of sports clubs: Gymnastics Club Libertas, Universal Sports School Sports Talent, Swimming Club Zrinjski, Swimming Club Velež, Swimming Club Orca, Water Sports Club of the University of Mostar, Diving Club Leut, Rugby Club Herceg Mostar, NK Zrinjski, HPD "Prenj 1933" from Mostar.

The entire teaching of physical education and health, as a course, for a large number of constituents of the University of Mostar is conducted in our sports halls, where various sports seminars and workshops are also held, such as Seminar for coaches - Table Tennis Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina, First International Professional Conference on Aerobics and Fitness, First scientific-professional conference Kinesitherapy in sports, recreation and education. Our facilities are also used by members of the Cadet Training Agency to check and test their students.