RENOVATED ACADEMY OF ARTS FACILITIES OPENED, BAM 1.5 MILLION INVESTED

BANJA LUKA, SEPTEMBER 18 /SRNA/ - Renovated facilities of the Academy of Arts of the University of Banjaluka and the Centre for Support to Students with Disabilities were opened in Banja Luka today, with BAM 1.5 million allocated for the project by the Republika Srpska Government.

Republika Srpska Minister for Scientific and Technological Development and Higher Education Draga Mastilović said that the investment cycle in Republika Srpska had not bypassed higher education and student standards.

He stressed that the quality of higher education in Republika Srpska has been recognized worldwide, as demonstrated by the fact that young people from more than 40 countries are currently studying in Republika Srpska.

"Such projects are being implemented out of great love for Republika Srpska, but also out of the great responsibility of the Republika Srpska Government towards higher education and student standards in Srpska," Mastilović told reporters at the University of Banja Luka Campus following the ceremonial opening of the renovated facilities.

He expects the renovation of the Campus to also be completed, which would enable Republika Srpska to have one of the most beautiful campuses in the region, and perhaps in Europe.

"Recently, the Republika Srpska Government decided to reconstruct the former surgery building for the needs of the Faculty of Medicine in Banja Luka, worth BAM 4 million, while today the Government adopted a conclusion to invest BAM 1.2 million in the reconstruction of the facade of the building housing the first and second pavilions of the Student Centre in Banja Luka," Mastilović said.

University of Banja Luka Rector Ranko Škrbić said that the facility had been adapted to the modern needs of students, while the project also created conditions for better promotion of the University of Banja Luka, the city of Banja Luka and Republika Srpska.

"This facility will be a source of pride for everyone, and much larger educational centres can envy it, particularly when it comes to film production and graphic design, as well as facilities for students with disabilities," Škrbić said.

Academy of Arts Dean Dragana Purković-Macan said that the production capacities for student projects would be raised to a higher level in the renovated facilities.

"Important equipment has been procured, and 800 square meters of space have been completely renovated and newly furnished," Purković-Macan said, stressing that top-level conditions have been provided for film, television and design that no other academy in the region has.

Mladen Đokić, a professor at the Academy of Arts of the University of Banja Luka whose field is animated film, stressed that the investment clearly showed how the money had been spent and that top-quality equipment had been provided for work.

Professor Jelena Grubor, whose fields are graphic design and interior design, also said that excellent working conditions had been provided, adding that the opinions and suggestions of professors had been taken into consideration during implementation of the renovation project.