Three decades of the Faculty of Philosophy

Thirty years anniversary of successful work and development of the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Banja Luka was commemorated in the formal event held at the Republic of Srpska National Theatre on 14 November 2024.

The message from the solemn academy was that this Faculty tries to develop additional competencies among the students and professors by enabling a creative ambient for studying and working.

Congratulating the jubilee to students and professors of the Faculty of Philosophy, the Rector of the University of Banja Luka, Radoslav Gajanin, stressed that this faculty excels in scientific productivity.

,,We are particularly proud that the Faculty of Philosophy has encouraged the professors and associates, but also the administrative workers, to undertake additional activities, so this faculty leads in that sense compared to all other faculties“, said Rector, prof. Radoslav Gajanin, PhD.

He said that the Faculty of Philosophy has gone through a revival in the last few years, thanks to the leadership of the Faculty and the support of the competent Ministry and the University. The Rector said that the Faculty of Philosophy has free psychological counselling for all the students, and stressed that the University will do everything to keep it lasting and sustainable.

,,We will continue to support the Faculty of Philosophy in its scientific activity and magazines they publish, and I hope that it will receive regional recognition as well, besides the national category“, said the Minister of Scientific-Technological Development and Higher Education of the Republic of Srpska, docent Zeljko Budimir, PhD.

The Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy, prof. Srđan Dušanić, PhD, said that the ultimate goal of the Faculty is to give its contribution to the community.

„We want to give reason to the young to stay here, to get educated, and to eventually find employment here. It is a strategic question of this society, for the young and smart ones to stay here“, said Dušanić.

In the course of the solemn academy, awards were given to individuals who contributed to the development of this Faculty with their selfless work, and among them was the Rector of the University of Banja Luka, prof. Radoslav Gajanin, PhD.

The first generation of students of the Faculty of Philosophy in Banja Luka started their studies in academic year 1994/95. Prior to the establishment of the Faculty of Philosophy in Banja Luka, the teaching personnel was educated in an organized manner starting with the Teacher's school, followed by the High School of Pedagogy, and the Pedagogic Academy that transformed into the Faculty of Philosophy in 1994. Two years later, study programs were identified to form the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, and in 2001 there was a decision to establish the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports. Eight years later, study programs were identified for the creation of the Faculty of Philology and Faculty of Political Sciences.

After all these transformations, the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Banja Luka continued the work with six study programs – Philosophy, Pedagogy, Psychology, History, Teacher`s school and Preschool education. The Faculty of Philosophy is characterized by its scientific events, symposiums, and publication of scientific magazines, along with Psychological
counselling for the students, the Institute for Social Sciences and Humanities, and the Laboratory for Experimental Psychology.

Photo: D. Desnica