By Liisa Hänninen
During a recent staff visit to Sarajevo School of Science and Technology (SSST), Complutense University (UCM) researchers and lecturers Olga Kolotouchkina, Patricia Núñez, and Liisa Hänninen performed research and training activities, in collaboration with the Technical University of Dublin (TUD) researcher Caitriona Delaney, also visiting Sarajevo at the same dates. The visit was part of the EDIRE project, aimed at enhancing SSST’s research profile and boosting its research capacity, especially in the field of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).
EDIRE project coordinator Jasminka Hasić and assistant Amina Katica together with colleagues from SSST gave a very warm welcome to the scholars participating in this fruitful staff exchange that also widened the partners’ awareness about academic research and innovation in Bosnia Herzegovina, particularly, about the country’s situation in terms of EDI.
On the first day, UCM team organized data-gathering interviews with SSST staff to identify their training and mentoring needs for enhancing international activity and academic profile, as well as improving EDI in the organization. UCM also supported focus groups organized by TUD for SSST management staff, followed by a networking dinner.
The second day was dedicated to extending the SSST staff interviews and providing support to the focus groups with junior academic staff. One of the highlights was a meeting with the founder and president of SSST Ejup Ganić for a short exchange of ideas. Additionally, the team participated in cultural and gastronomic activities to learn about the Bosnian capital’s context.
During the last day, UCM team organized a workshop “Gender Equality in Research” for SSST Computer Science Students of Professor Jasminka Hasić, as part of the EDI training plan of the project. Students were tasked with designing a gender sensitive app for Sarajevo’s tourist office. The quality of the student proposals impressed the visiting team with their insightful strategic approach, as well as their applicability and quality.
