13th International Staff Training Week Held, University of Sarajevo Hosted 44 Participants from 16 Countries
The University of Sarajevo hosted the 13th International Staff Training Week from June 9 to 13, 2025, welcoming representatives of partner universities from Europe and around the world. The event aimed to foster the exchange of experiences, networking, and capacity building in the field of internationalization and Erasmus+ programs, bringing together 44 teaching and administrative staff members from 29 higher education institutions across 16 countries. For the first time, the National Research Centre in Giza (Cairo, Egypt) also participated, further expanding the international scope of the event.
Participants of the 13th International Staff Training Week came from: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece), Charles University (Czech Republic), Vocational Training Centre Valle de Elda (Spain), Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Germany), Manisa Celal Bayar University (Turkey), Middle East Technical University – METU (Turkey), National Research Centre in Giza (Egypt), Palacký University of Olomouc (Czech Republic), Phillips University of Marburg (Germany), Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco and Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo (Portugal), South East European University (North Macedonia), University “G. d’Annunzio” Chieti–Pescara and University of Trento (Italy), University of Helsinki (Finland), University of Liechtenstein (Liechtenstein), University of Saarland (Germany), University of Szczecin and University of Warsaw (Poland), University of Technology of Belfort–Montbéliard (France), University of Valladolid, Pontifical University Comillas in Madrid, Vocational Training Centre for Audiovisual Technologies Vigo, School of Arts and Design “Antonio Faílde” and the Higher School for Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage of Galicia – CARTES consortium (Spain), University of Zadar and University of Zagreb (Croatia), Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania), and West University of Timișoara (Romania).
The International Staff Training Week was formally opened at the Rectorate of the University of Sarajevo, where the participants were welcomed by the Vice-Rector for International Relations, Prof. Dr. Kemal Durić. The European university alliance EUPeace was presented to the participants, which promotes peace, justice, and inclusive societies. The alliance’s activities were introduced by the academic coordinator Prof. Dr. Kemal Durić, while work package activities were presented in a panel discussion by Prof. Dr. Sarina Bakić, Prof. Dr. Mirzana Pašić-Kodrić, Dr. Jasna Bošnjović, Dr. Mariana Hadžijusufović, and Prof. Dr. Dženana Husremović.
The participants were also introduced to the history of the University of Sarajevo, followed by an organized visit to the Faculty of Islamic Studies and the Catholic Faculty of Theology.
On the second day, participants visited the University “Džemal Bijedić” in Mostar, where the International Day of the university was held. The program included a presentation of the university by coordinator Mirsada Behram, a Bosnian language and culture workshop, a screening of the film “Religion under the Open Sky – Mostar through the Prism of Togetherness,” and a lecture by Prof. Dr. Veldin Ovčina.
The third day focused on advanced technologies – a workshop on artificial intelligence and its application in education and research was held at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Sarajevo, prepared and led by Prof. Dr. Mirza Pašić. Prof. Pašić also presented various EU-funded international projects in which the Faculty is currently participating:
DELTA – Advancing Data Literacy and Innovation in the Western Balkans (Erasmus+ CBHE project, 2024–2027)
TAI – Teaching Artificial Intelligence (Erasmus+ KA220-HED project, 2024–2027)
DSGN COM – DL – Design of Computational Mechanics and Deep Learning Joint Master Programme (Erasmus Design Measures – EMDM, 2023–2025)
After the lecture, participants toured the laboratories of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, guided by Prof. Dr. Maida Čohodar Husić, Vice-Dean for Research Prof. Dr. Amra Hasečić, Prof. Dr. Halima Hadžiahmetović, Assist. Prof. Dr. Mirela Alispahić, Prof. Dr. Đerzija Begić-Hajdarević, and Prof. Dr. Adis Muminović. The participants had the opportunity to visit and learn about work in the laboratories for 3D printing, robotics and automation, lean laboratory, welding laboratory, and CNC laboratory, as well as to see the use of solar panels installed on the roof of the Faculty.
Later in the day, best practices in the implementation of Blended Intensive Programmes (BIP) were presented, with case examples shared by colleagues from West University of Timișoara (Romania), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece), and the University of Liechtenstein.
The fourth day was marked by a practical workshop titled “Erasmus Gone Wrong”, held at Europe House, focusing on the challenges in Erasmus+ mobility management, including case studies and collective solution-finding. The workshop was facilitated by Mr. Adnan Rahimić and Dr. Jasna Bošnjović. Through active participation of attendees from both the Sarajevo and Mostar staff weeks, the main challenges in Erasmus+ implementation were identified and addressed through examples of good practice. Additionally, a joint initiative was launched to develop a model of an “ideal” Erasmus mobility, serving as a benchmark for all universities.
The final day was dedicated to the organization of student traineeships and their importance within the Erasmus+ program. Best practices were shared by colleagues from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece) and the Professional Development Centre in Valle de Elda (Alicante, Spain).
The program concluded with the awarding of certificates and a joint reflection on the outcomes achieved.
The 13th International Staff Training Week proved to be an excellent opportunity for strengthening international partnerships, exchanging experiences, and developing new ideas that will contribute to the continued internationalization of the University of Sarajevo.
