Bridges of Knowledge Without Borders: EF UNIBL Professors on an International Exchange in Belgium

From 16 to 20 March 2026, representatives of the Faculty of Economics of the University of Banja Luka took part in the International Staff Week 2026 organized by Thomas More University of Applied Sciences in Belgium. Representing the Faculty of Economics were Prof. Igor Todorović, PhD, Prof. Tajana Serdar Raković, PhD, and Assist. Prof. Ljubiša Mićić, PhD.

This international mobility programme included teaching activities, workshops, networking, and direct engagement with students, offering our academic staff an opportunity to present their expertise in an international academic environment while also strengthening cooperation with foreign partners.

As part of the programme, Prof. Igor Todorović, PhD delivered two lectures entitled “Greenwashing or Genuine Sustainability? How to Tell the Difference”. Through this topic, he addressed one of the most relevant issues in contemporary business: how to distinguish genuine sustainability from superficial and marketing-driven claims of sustainable practice.

Prof. Tajana Serdar Raković, PhD delivered the lecture “Concept of Cost of Capital and Basic Aspects of Discount Rate”, focusing on key concepts necessary for understanding the cost of capital and discount rate, as well as their role in financial decision-making and investment appraisal.

Assist. Prof. Ljubiša Mićić, PhD delivered the lecture “Digital Business Transformation: How Emerging Technologies Reshapes Business Models”, dedicated to the impact of emerging technologies on the transformation of business models and the changes brought by the digital economy to contemporary business.

A particularly valuable part of the programme took place on Tuesday, when our academic staff participated in workshop-based and interactive activities with students, including mentoring student teams. This segment enabled more direct exchange of ideas, work on concrete challenges, and stronger connections between teachers and students in an international and interdisciplinary setting.

In addition to teaching activities, participation in this event created important opportunities for academic networking, exchange of good practices, and discussions on future forms of cooperation. It is also important to highlight that cooperation with Thomas More University of Applied Sciences has continuity. Students of the Business Informatics study programme at the Faculty of Economics had previously taken part in the university’s Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) activities in 2026, as well as in its summer school in 2025, while several students have already spent a semester at Thomas More through Erasmus+ mobility.

The participation of the Faculty of Economics UNIBL professors in International Staff Week 2026 once again confirms the Faculty’s strong commitment to internationalization, modern teaching approaches, and the strengthening of international academic cooperation. Activities such as this contribute not only to the exchange of knowledge and experience, but also to building concrete foundations for new forms of institutional cooperation and for involving both students and teaching staff in contemporary European educational flows. 

Published 26.03.2026 at 15:28

Continuation of cooperation with Mendel University - Andrej Ševa on exchange in the Czech Republic

In November 2025, I had the privilege of representing the University of Banja Luka at the International Week of Mendel University in Brno, as part of the Erasmus+ mobility programme. During the five-day visit, from November 3rd to 7th, we toured several faculties of this renowned Czech institution, founded in 1919 and named after the father of genetics, Gregor Johann Mendel, with a particular highlight being our visit to the Faculty of Business and Economics, which serves as a natural counterpart to our own Faculty of Economics. Mendel University stands out for its large international student community and a well-developed system of incoming student mobilities, making it a vibrant and stimulating environment for studying, especially for international students. I also participated in workshops focused on innovations in the areas of international cooperation, mobility, university management, and sustainability. In addition, I had the opportunity to meet with University of Banja Luka students currently on exchange, mostly students from the Faculty of Economics of the University of Banja Luka, completing their exchange at Mendel University's Faculty of Business and Economics. It was from them that I heard very positive impressions firsthand. This mobility visit certainly represents a valuable contribution to strengthening academic and institutional cooperation between our institutions.

Published 25.03.2026 at 12:43

Assistant Professor Mićić from Faculty of Economics at the Foreign Policy Meetings in Memory of Vitaliy Churkin in Moscow

Assistant Professor Dr Ljubiša Mićić, representing Faculty of Economics, University of Banja Luka took part in the forum Foreign Policy Meetings in Memory of Vitaliy Churkin in Moscow, within a programme that brings together participants from different countries to exchange views on contemporary international relations, diplomacy, security, and global challenges.

The event was organised by the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund, which operates under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

Among the prominent speakers and interlocutors, in addition to Maria Zakharova, Director of the Information and Press Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, was Sergey Kislyak, Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs.

A special contribution by professor Mićić was made within the panel “Digital Sovereignty: Between National Regulation and Global Standards”, which opened a space for discussion on the relationship between national regulatory frameworks and global standards in the field of digital development, data governance, and technological autonomy. Speakers on this panel included Vadim Kozyulin, Professor at the Academy of Military Sciences of the Russian Federation and Head of the Center for Global Studies and International Relations at the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, as well as Ivan Danilin, Deputy Director for Scientific Work at IMEMO.

The event also gained a strong symbolic and emotional dimension through the presence of Irina Churkina, the widow of the late Vitaliy Churkin, who expressed her gratitude to the Serbian people for the bust erected in honour of her late husband. Her presence further emphasised the memorial character of the forum.

The participation of professor Mićić in this international forum represents an important contribution to the international visibility of UNIBL and EFBL, as well as a confirmation of the active involvement of the academic community from the Republic of Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina in relevant global debates on diplomacy, security, and the digital future.

Published 25.02.2026 at 21:06

University of Banja Luka Professors in Białystok, Poland – January 19-23, 2026

The University of Banja Luka (UNIBL) and the Białystok University of Technology (BUT), Poland, are actively collaborating for the second consecutive year as part of the Erasmus+ project "Across - European University for Cross-Border Knowledge Sharing." During the winter semester of the 2025/26 academic year, two professors from Banja Luka, serving as visiting professors and course coordinators, delivered lectures and conducted exercises in a hybrid format for Erasmus students at BUT from October 2025 until the end of January 2026.

From January 19 to 23, 2026, at the Faculty of Engineering Management in Białystok, participants experienced dynamic final sessions: Prof. Saša Petković, PhD, guided students through practical Project Management scenarios, while Prof. Jelena Poljašević, PhD, provided insights into International Taxation and Accounting and Financial Management.

During this working week, professors from the UNIBL Faculty of Economics actively engaged in a series of interactive meetings with BUT professors, researchers, and students as part of the Across activities. These meetings aimed to lay the foundation for future staff and student exchanges, promote collaborative scientific research, and create opportunities for impactful joint activities, such as virtual student job fairs, guest lectures, and the development of joint study programs. These efforts are expected to strengthen cross-border cooperation and broaden academic and professional opportunities for participants.

Our professors express heartfelt gratitude to Prof. Mirosław Świercz, PhD, Pro-rector for Development; Joanna Szydło, PhD; Wioletta Czemiel-Grzybowska, PhD; Anna Matwiejczyk, MA; and Prof. Zbigniew Korzeb, PhD, for their warm hospitality and professional cooperation, which enriched their stay in Poland.

The Across - European University for Cross-Border Knowledge Sharing project is funded by the European Union (Erasmus+).

Published 26.01.2026 at 21:48

Assistant Professor Ljubiša Mićić at the Kick-off Meeting of the Erasmus+ TBEAI Project

Assistant Professor Ljubiša Mićić, representing the Faculty of Economics, University of Banja Luka, participated in the kick-off meeting of the Erasmus+ project Transforming Business Education with AI in Western Balkans (TBEAI), held in early December 2025 in Durrës, Albania. The Laboratory for Electronic Business of the Faculty of Economics, University of Banja Luka serves as the project coordinator for UNIBL.
The meeting brought together partners from universities across the Western Balkans and the European Union, with Aleksandër Moisiu University of Durrës acting as the host and project coordinator. During the two-day programme, project objectives, work packages, and planned activities for the upcoming three-year period were presented, alongside discussions and the exchange of experiences on the modernization of business education through the application of artificial intelligence.
The TBEAI project is funded under the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE – Strand 2) programme and has a duration of 36 months. The participation of the Faculty of Economics, University of Banja Luka represents a significant contribution to the enhancement of study programmes, the development of AI-related capacities, and the strengthening of cooperation between academia and the business sector in the region.

Published 08.01.2026 at 11:10

Strengthening Academic Ties: Professor Jovo Ateljević Visits Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China – November 2025

Professor Jovo Ateljević, from the Faculty of Economics, University of Banja Luka, has recently completed a successful four-week academic visit to Jiangsu University’s School of Management in Zhenjiang, China. The visit, held from October 17 to November 17, 2025, was conducted at the invitation of Jiangsu University and approved by the Faculty of Economics, University of Banja Luka.

The primary goals of the visit included contributing to the MBA program, exchanging academic experiences, and exploring opportunities for institutional cooperation between the two universities.

Teaching and Academic Engagement

During the visit, Professor Ateljević taught a 48-hour course in Strategic Management, delivered entirely in English to a diverse group of 36 international MBA students from 14 countries. The course was well-received, with high student engagement and positive feedback. Professor Ateljević was responsible for designing and delivering lectures, preparing teaching materials, assigning coursework, and conducting assessments.

Key Meetings and Collaborative Dialogues

Professor Ateljević held several strategic meetings with representatives of Jiangsu University, including:

• Prof. Zhu Yongyue, Dean of the School of Management,

• Prof. He Di, Assistant Dean and Master Student Supervisor,

• Prof. Mingyue Fan, Deputy Director of the MBA Case Study Center,

• Prof. Dragana Ostić, Jiangsu University,

• Representatives from the Overseas Education College.

The discussions focused on long-term cooperation in the following areas:

• Joint Academic Programs: Initial steps toward developing joint MBA and postgraduate programs aligned with both institutions’ strategic priorities.

• Staff and Student Exchange: Establishing short-term academic mobility programs for teaching, training, and study visits.

• Research Collaboration: Designing joint research initiatives, with emphasis on international funding opportunities. One standout project under discussion is
  “Smart Cross-Border E-Commerce for Inclusive Digital Trade: Building Sustainable Links between China and Southeastern Europe.”

As a direct result of these efforts, the two institutions have agreed to establish a “China–Bosnia and Herzegovina Cross-Border E-Commerce Joint Research Centre” at Jiangsu University’s School of Management.

This visit represents a significant step forward in enhancing academic cooperation, internationalization, and research collaboration between the University of Banja Luka and Jiangsu University, China

Published 11.12.2025 at 15:02

ENAC Institute in Toulouse, France - prof. Mirjana Milijević, PhD

As part of the France Excellence program, I had the opportunity to spend 15 days at the ENAC Institute in Toulouse, France, from June 14 to June 28, 2025. This stay provided me with valuable experience through exposure to modern approaches in teaching and research, as well as the exchange of ideas with colleagues from various European institutions.

It was particularly significant to observe how theoretical knowledge in mathematics is connected with practical examples and projects in aviation, and how interdisciplinarity fosters innovation and quality in education.

Beyond the professional aspect, my stay in Toulouse was also an inspiring personal experience – from discovering French academic culture to exploring the city’s rich traditions and everyday life. The contacts established and new ideas for cooperation represent an important incentive for my future work, while also contributing to the strengthening of the international collaboration of our Faculty.

Published 24.09.2025 at 23:51

Erasmus+ Experience of Nikola Vidović at Masaryk University in Brno

During the period March 23–29, 2025, I stayed at Masaryk University in Brno (Czech Republic) as part of the Erasmus+ staff mobility program. I delivered a two-day course on the topic of sustainable economy and ESG standards, with a particular focus on developing countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina. The lectures were held in English for international program students, and I also had the opportunity to present our country, city, and university, which sparked great interest, especially among students from outside Europe.
Since this was my first experience with international mobility, there was a certain sense of uncertainty at the beginning. However, colleagues in Brno and the excellently organized International Relations Office ensured that everything went smoothly. I received timely information about the courses, schedules, and colleagues with whom I quickly arranged topics and teaching materials. Working with students from Europe, Asia, and South America was truly valuable, as the diversity of perspectives enriched the discussions and gave me a new outlook on my work.
In addition to the academic part, I used my free time to explore Brno and also visited Prague. I would particularly recommend Brno as a charming city and an ideal choice for a first Erasmus+ experience. I encourage both students and colleagues to take advantage of this opportunity and gain valuable contacts and memories.

Published 24.09.2025 at 23:48

Participation of Asst. Prof. Dr. Jadranka Petrović in Summer School at the University of Caen, France through Erasmus+ Program

From June 30 to July 4, 2025, Asst. Prof. Dr. Jadranka Petrović participated in the summer school titled “Advancing Scientific Discovery with Artificial Intelligence”, hosted by the University of Caen Normandy (Universite Caen Normandie), France.

The summer school aimed to provide participants with a deeper understanding of how artificial intelligence techniques can be applied in the process of scientific discovery across diverse research fields.

The program brought together 50 participants from 13 countries across Europe and beyond, offering an excellent opportunity to strengthen research competencies and foster international collaboration among researchers.

This mobility was realized through the Erasmus+ academic staff exchange program, which continuously contributes to improving the quality of higher education through international cooperation and knowledge exchange.

Published 29.08.2025 at 14:43

Participation of Ljubiša Mićić in the Kick-Off Meeting of the Across University Alliance in Chemnitz

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ljubiša Mićić took part as one of the representatives of the University of Banja Luka at the Kick-Off meeting of the Across University Alliance, held in Chemnitz from 4 to 6 March 2025 (more about the alliance).

The University of Banja Luka is actively involved in the alliance’s work, and Mićić serves as one of the leads for Task 2.4 within Work Package 2 (WP2). This is one of two tasks (out of a total of 16) coordinated by UNIBL. During the meeting, plenary sessions, working groups, and parallel work-package meetings were held, where Mićić, together with colleagues from the WP2 team, worked on defining priorities, shared workflows, a six-month activity plan, and indicator measurement.

In addition to the working sessions, the meeting included cultural events and networking activities, which further contributed to strengthening cooperation and the exchange of experience among partner universities from across Europe.

Through this participation, Ljubiša Mićić affirmed his active role in the strategic development and implementation of projects within the Across University Alliance, with a focus on innovative approaches to enhancing higher education and international cooperation.

Published 11.08.2025 at 23:14