Dodik Visited the University of Banja Luka: Ten Million BAM for Capital Investments

Ten million BAM will be provided from the budget of the Republic of Srpska for capital projects of the University of Banja Luka this year, the Serb Member of BH Presidency Milorad Dodik stated during the meeting with the management of the University of Banja Luka on 6 July 2020.

According to Dodik, these are funds for the completion of works on the building in which the Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering, Geodesy and the Faculty of Forestry will be located, the construction of a theatre stage in Pavilion IV of the "Nikola Tesla" Student Centre and the future preschool educational centre - kindergarten building.

,,The Republic of Srpska allocates annually around BAM 97 million for public universities in the Republic of Srpska on different bases, plus for various investments. Of the capital investments at the University of Banja Luka, it remains to arrange the road in the University Campus and build a memorial temple," Dodik said, adding that part of the road will be built by the end of this year.

,,It remains to build the building of the Faculty of Medicine and the Secondary Medical School within the University Clinical Centre in Paprikovac, which would complete the construction of all facilities for the primary teaching process," Dodik emphasized.

Dodik said that in the previous months, classes were held in special circumstances, but that the way of teaching did not affect the students’ pass rate. The Serb Member of the Presidency of BH once again expressed full support to the rector's team, professors and students of the University. 

Rector of the University of Banja Luka Prof. Radoslav Gajanin, PhD, said that the support of the Serbian Member of the Presidency and the Government of the Republic of Srpska is of great importance for the implementation of capital projects at the University.

,,Our most significant investment is the completion of the building that was originally intended for the Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, and will now serve the purpose of this Faculty and the Faculty of Forestry." Gajanin pointed out.

As the rector explained, the priority is the construction of an educational centre for preschool education - a kindergarten building, which is planned within the University Campus, and the completion of the theatre stage within the IV pavilion of the "Nikola Tesla" Student Centre.

„We also planned the reconstruction of roads within the University Campus and the construction of a memorial temple to students and employees of the University who lost their lives in the defence-patriotic war“, Gajanin stressed.

Minister of Scientific and Technological Development, Higher Education and Information Society of the Republic of Srpska Srđan Rajčević said that this visit speaks in favour of the fact that the authorities and the Government of the Republic of Srpska strive for the development of the higher education system.

,,Last year and this year, we started the reform of higher education and we are aware that certain logistical preconditions are needed for it, which the investment of ten million BAM in new facilities at the University Campus will enable. By investing in higher education, we are building a better future for the Republic of Srpska and new economic perspectives for our youth," Rajčević pointed out.

During his visit to the University, Dodik visited the building in which the Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy and the Faculty of Forestry will be located and other locations at the University Campus, while Prof. Saša Čvoro gave a brief presentation of the needs for investment.

The visits were also attended by the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Srpska Zora Vidović and the Advisor to the Serb Member of the Presidency of BH Nina Sajić, PhD. The delegation of the University that welcomed the guests also included the Vice-Rector for Scientific Research and Development Prof. Goran Latinović, PhD, Vice-Rector for International and Interuniversity Cooperation Prof. Biljana Antunović, PhD, Vice-Rector for Teaching and Student Affairs Prof. Strain Posavljak, PhD, Vice-Rector for Human and Material Resources Prof. Dalibor Kesić, PhD, Financial Director Duško Lazić and Secretary General Đorđe Markez.