A delegation of the University of Banja Luka (UNIBL), led by Prof. Radoslav Gajanin, PhD, Rector of the University, participated in the jubilee 10th International Neva Forum held in Saint Petersburg on 26 June 2026.
This prestigious scientific and professional event is organized by the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) under the auspices of the President of the Russian Federation. This year’s forum brought together distinguished representatives of academia, public administration, and legislative bodies.
During his address at the plenary session entitled “Public Administration, Economy and Society: Unity of Values and Dialogue of Cultures,” Rector Gajanin emphasized the University of Banja Luka’s strong commitment to developing and deepening relations with Russian partners, noting that UNIBL currently maintains successful cooperation with nearly 40 leading higher education institutions in the Russian Federation.
Rector Gajanin particularly highlighted that the excellent cooperation between universities in the Republic of Srpska and the Russian Federation is founded upon strong institutional relations and close ties between the offices of the presidents and governments of the Republic of Srpska and the Russian Federation, as well as the long-standing cooperation between the Republic of Srpska and Saint Petersburg. Next year will mark the 20th anniversary of the intensive development of mutual economic, scientific, and cultural relations between the two sides.
In his presentation, the Rector identified four key pillars of the shared future and cooperation: humanities, social and political sciences, medical sciences, and culture and the arts. Through activities ranging from Serbian and Russian language studies to joint master’s programs, these fields actively preserve historical ties and strengthen cooperation among young people.
Cooperation with the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration
A particularly significant aspect of the University of Banja Luka’s participation in the Forum was the ceremonial signing of a Cooperation Agreement with the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration.
The Agreement was signed by Prof. Radoslav Gajanin, PhD, Rector of UNIBL, and Andrey Markovich Margolin, Vice-Rector of RANEPA. This document represents a strategic step forward in building long-term academic and cultural ties between the two institutions, with the primary objective of supporting and promoting joint educational and research projects.
The signed agreement provides for intensive cooperation across a broad range of social sciences and humanities disciplines—from economics and law to international relations and business informatics—through student and staff mobility, joint educational programs, research activities, and the organization of conferences.
In addition to Rector Gajanin, the University of Banja Luka delegation attending the International Neva Forum included Prof. Goran Latinović, PhD, of the Faculty of Philosophy, and M.Sc. Đorđe Kenjalo, Head of the Office for International and Inter-University Cooperation.
The Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration is one of the leading higher education and research institutions in Russia in the fields of public administration, economics, law, and management. With more than 50 branches across the country, over 230,000 students and participants in various educational programs, and an extensive network of research and educational centers, the Academy educates professionals for public administration and industry, conducts scientific research, and actively develops international academic cooperation through conferences, projects, and exchange programs.
