The Third University Economic Forum, organized by the University of Mostar and the Chamber of Economy of the Federation of BiH, brought together representatives of the academic community, the real sector, as well as institutions operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina at the International Economic Fair. Through three panels, participants discussed innovation and the adaptation of higher education to the needs of the modern labor market, the challenges of the energy transition, and the candidate status of Bosnia and Herzegovina and EU funds.
The Rector of the University of Mostar, Zoran Tomić, said that the University had adopted a Strategy for the next five years and that one of the strategic areas is the relationship with the social community, and within that, the relationship with the economy. „We do not hide that our cooperation with the economy is not at the level we would like. There are not enough practitioners, businesspeople in teaching, and we want to improve that”, Rector Tomić emphasized in his opening address.
„We still do not have enough links between science and our economy; it is crucial to connect science, the economy and, of course, what is called government, the social community of BiH, because one absolutely cannot function without the other, and it seems to me that we are on the right path and that we have understood that”, emphasized Dragan Čović, President of HDZ and HNS BiH and Deputy Speaker of the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly, adding that it is important to make joint decisions quickly. He also spoke about the importance of the Mostar fair for the whole of BiH and the region, as well as for networking and connecting, and he also referred to the candidate status of BiH, stressing that it offers many opportunities for us, if we are ready to understand how others also see the future.
„Innovation and adaptation of higher education to the needs of the modern labor market” was the title of the first panel moderated by Zdenko Klepić, with participation from Josip Grubeša from the University of Mostar, Helena Lončar, Director of the Federal Employment Institute, Josip Kožul, EMERUS d.o.o., Dr. sc. Vjekoslav Vuković, Vice President of the Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH, and Ronald Sudić, member of the Management Board of UniCredit Bank. The panelists emphasized the importance of involving students in the real sector already during their studies so that they can see which competencies they need to be competitive in the labor market, but also to experience the way an organization works and functions. During the second panel, in which Drago Bago, Elektroprivreda HZHB, Ivo Čović, KONČAR Renewable Sources d.o.o., Sanjin Habul from the Federal Ministry of Energy, Mining and Industry, and Hajrudin Bećirović, Operator for Renewable Energy Sources and Efficient Cogeneration, participated, current topics of renewable energy sources were discussed, as well as the possibilities and potential of Bosnia and Herzegovina in that aspect. The panel „Challenges of (just) energy transition – democratization of energy” was moderated by Miroslav Nikolić.
The Head of the Projects Office of the University of Mostar, Boris Crnokić, moderated the third panel dedicated to opportunities and perspectives through candidate status and European funds. Fabio Pigliapoco, Adriatic-Ionian Initiative, Maja Rimac from the Directorate for European Integration, Mirjana Čagalj, honorary ambassador of EUSAIR, and Ambassador Miloš Prica from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH spoke about the opportunities of Bosnia and Herzegovina when it comes to European funds and what can be expected in the next phases.
Marko Šantić, President of the Chamber of Economy of the Federation of BiH, stated in his address that the topics and panelists were carefully selected and said that Mostar is becoming an international center during these days of the Economic Fair. „We are trying in some way to make use of what we have, so today here at the fair you can see people from the surrounding area, companies from the region, Europe and the world”, Šantić said.
