On the final day of the EDIRE Summer School, the second Public Event powered by the Mediterranean Forum was held under the title EDIRE Dissemination Activities. The session was led by Prof. Dr. Jasminka Hasić Telalović and Olga Kolotouchkina, who reflected on the impact of the two summer schools organized within the EDIRE project. They concluded that the project has fully justified its objectives and that its sustainability is now guaranteed.
Opening remarks were delivered by the Rector of SSST University, Prof. Dr. Vjekoslav Domljan, who spoke about the importance of centres of excellence and how Horizon Europe projects contribute to building new ecosystems and spaces for innovation.
On this occasion, Prof. Dr. Domljan also signed and formalised a Cooperation Agreement with the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, setting the stage for continued collaboration, academic and administrative staff exchange, and the strengthening of research capacities between the institutions.
Special guests included representatives of the Embassies of Spain and Italy in Bosnia and Herzegovina:
- Mrs. Rosaria Rinaudo, Head of the Administrative Unit (Italy), and
- Ms. Sol Cabanas, Deputy Head of Mission at the Spanish Embassy,
Ms. Cabanas emphasized the importance of Spain’s support for Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly in terms of foreign policy initiatives aligned with EDI principles and active participation in Horizon Europe projects.
From the Office of Research and Project Administration (ORPA), Amina Katica highlighted the vital role of the EDIRE project in strengthening SSST’s research infrastructure. She presented the creation and development of ORPA, an office established as part of EDIRE to support grant writing and project development. A key product of this effort is Milestone 7 – the EDIRE Toolkit, designed to assist not only SSST staff but also institutions across the Western Balkans in applying for EU-funded research projects using EDI frameworks.
The event concluded with the certificate award ceremony for all participants, as well as the presentation of their mini research projects, where students explored and analyzed how inclusive Sarajevo is as a city.
As the impressions and reflections of this five-day EDI journey continue to settle, the organizers extend their gratitude to everyone who contributed and who remain committed to shaping a society that is equal, diverse, and inclusive.
🇪🇺This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe program for widening participation and spreading excellence under Grant Agreement number 101060145
