The graduation ceremony of the 25th generation of ERMA program students

The graduation ceremony for the 25th cohort of students from the European Regional Master’s Programme in Democracy and Human Rights in Southeast Europe (GCSEE/ERMA) took place today, with 26 students receiving their certificates from this esteemed international MA program. The event, held at the Rectorate of the University of Sarajevo, was attended by diplomats, university faculty, ERMA staff, and students. Since its inception, approximately over 700 students, primarily from Southeast Europe, the EU, and beyond, have completed the program. Graduates receive a double degree from the University of Sarajevo and the University of Bologna.

The ceremony began with a performance by the vocal ensemble Corona, followed by a welcome speech by the University of Sarajevo’s Vice-Rector for Teaching and Student Affairs, Prof. Dženana Husremović. Speeches followed from Prof. Rebecca Montanari, Vice-Rector for Digital Transformation, University of Bologna; Prof. Francesco Niccolò Moro, Head of the Department of Political and Social Sciences, University of Bologna; Martina Lioi, Head of Consular Affairs, Embassy of the Republic of Italy in Bosnia and Herzegovina; and Aurelie Valtat, the Head of Section "European Integration, Political, Press and Information" at the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The gathering was also addressed by Veronica Gomez, President of the Global Campus of Human Rights and Judge of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights; and human rights defender Dr. Stella Nyanzi. Prof. Marco Borraccetti, ERMA Co-director from the University of Bologna, also took the floor.

Representatives of the 2025/2026 cohort, Maja Alyce Jovanović and Maida Zagorac, shared their reflections on the academic and personal experience during this intensive study year. After the graduates were announced and received their certificates, the recipient of the ERMA Alumni Network (EAN) Human Rights Award, Zilka Spahić Šiljak, addressed the audience.

ERMA Co-director Prof. Asim Mujkić, University of Sarajevo, announced the graduation awards. Igor Stipić was awarded the 6-month paid internship sponsored by the Global Campus of Human Rights for academic success. The thesis of Amila Husić will be published in the Global Campus of Human Rights repository, while the theses of Igor Stipić, Nina Galvani, Lejla Alihodžić and Armela Mehdin were awarded the best thesis award and will be published in the ERMA Best Theses booklet. Armela Mehdin is also the recipient of the ERMA Climate internship.

The ERMA program is a collaborative initiative between various universities in Southeast Europe and the European Union. Since its inception in 2000, it has been supported by European funding, with financial backing from the EU (INTPA) for over a decade, provided through the Global Campus of Human Rights.

The University of Sarajevo and the University of Bologna extend their heartfelt congratulations to the graduates and warmly welcome them to the Alumni Network, wishing them success in their future professional endeavors.

_{Photo: Vanja Čerimagić}