Bosnia signs CEEPUS IV Agreement, secures 190 annual scholarship months

Bosnia and Herzegovina's Minister of Civil Affairs, Dubravka Bošnjak, today signed an Agreement on the Implementation of the Central European Exchange Program for University Studies (CEEPUS IV) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, establishing the formal prerequisites for its full implementation.

The signing of the Agreement marks an important step towards establishing a coordinated system for implementing the programme, which enables students and university staff to participate in international exchanges, pursue professional development and establish links with higher education institutions across Central Europe, CE Report informs via the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina's official website.

The Agreement defines the respective rights and obligations of the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Federal Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Scientific and Technological Development and Higher Education of Republika Srpska, as well as 13 partner universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its particular importance lies in coordinating administrative and financial activities, thereby ensuring more stable and efficient conditions for academic mobility among students, teaching staff and non-teaching personnel.

Under the CEEPUS IV Agreement, Bosnia and Herzegovina has committed to financing at least 100 scholarship months annually. Currently, funding has been secured in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a total of 190 scholarship months per year. Of these, at least 140 have been allocated in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and at least 50 in Republika Srpska for incoming participants in the exchange programme.

As the next step towards making the programme operational, the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina will establish a CEEPUS Expert Working Group comprising representatives of the relevant education authorities and partner universities from both entities. The Working Group will be tasked with preparing a document entitled "Rules and Procedures for the Implementation of the CEEPUS IV Programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina". This document will provide more detailed regulations on programme implementation, including procedures and deadlines for scholarship payments, the establishment of uniform scholarship amounts in line with current living costs, and the amount and arrangements for travel cost contributions.

The signing of this Agreement represents an important step towards strengthening institutional cooperation and improving conditions for international academic mobility in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Through the CEEPUS programme, students, teaching staff and non-teaching personnel can acquire new knowledge and experience, exchange good practices and establish partnerships between higher education institutions in participating countries.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina will continue coordinating activities with the relevant education authorities and universities to ensure the efficient and timely implementation of the CEEPUS IV programme and create better conditions for international cooperation and closer integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina's academic community into the European Higher Education Area.

Photo Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina