Acting Rector of the University of Banja Luka Prof. Ranko Škrbić, PhD, presented distinguished American economist and Columbia University Professor Jeffrey Sachs with an honorary doctorate of the University of Banja Luka on 28 September 2026, in recognition of his contribution to the development of economic relations and his commitment to the peaceful resolution of international conflicts.
Following the ceremonial conferment of the honorary doctorate, held at the Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Prof. Sachs delivered a lecture entitled “The Republic of Srpska in a Multipolar World”.
Rector Škrbić said that Professor Sachs’s visit to the University of Banja Luka was an exceptionally significant event, given his academic work and international experience.
“This is an exceptionally important event for the University of Banja Luka, where we have had the opportunity to host Professor Sachs, one of the world’s leading economists and a person who has witnessed numerous changes in the world since the 1980s. Through his academic work and expertise, he has helped numerous governments address macroeconomic problems and crises, and he has also been very active as an adviser to the United Nations, having worked with almost all UN Secretaries-General over the past several decades,” Rector Škrbić said.
He said it had been a pleasure to hear Professor Sachs’s lecture, stressing that his visit to Banja Luka marked the beginning of more intensive cooperation.
“This is not Professor Sachs’s first visit to this part of the world, but it is his first visit to Banja Luka. Based on everything we had the opportunity to hear today, following the conferment of the honorary doctorate, we received assurances that this will not be a one-time visit, but that Professor Sachs will be coming more frequently and that we will continue our cooperation,” he said.
The Rector stressed that the institute headed by Professor Sachs was focused on connecting universities, researchers and young people, opening up opportunities for future research and development projects.
“The institute headed by Professor Sachs is designed and operates precisely to connect numerous universities, researchers and young people and provide a platform for future research and development projects that we plan to implement here at the University of Banja Luka, as well as in cooperation with other universities,” Rector Škrbić said.
Professor Sachs said that it was a great honor for him to visit the University of Banja Luka and receive an honorary doctorate, stressing that he also viewed the recognition as an opportunity for future cooperation.
“I am very pleased to be here and to have had the opportunity to address you. This recognition is not only a great honor, but also an opportunity for our future cooperation, as both the President and the Rector have said,” Sachs said.
He said that during his lecture he had spoken about harmony and diversity, which, as he noted, were important themes in the contemporary world.
“Today, I had the honor of speaking about harmony and diversity, as I like to call these themes, because we face different challenges – environmental, human and social. Overcoming such challenges in a multi-ethnic society is challenging, but it is also an honor. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to speak about this today,” Sachs said.
The ceremonial conferment of the honorary doctorate and the lecture were also attended by the President of the Republic of Srpska Prof. Siniša Karan, PhD, who highlighted the significance of Professor Sachs’s visit for the academic community and the Republic of Srpska.
“Great thanks to the Republic of Srpska, the entire academic community, and the University for the visit of Professor Sachs, one of the world’s greatest professors and scholars in various fields,” Karan said.
He stressed that Professor Sachs’s visit was significant in many respects, particularly given the importance of education and knowledge for the development of society.
“We often emphasize that the development of every society is primarily driven by its economy and institutions, but what we must also emphasize are education, faculties, universities and knowledge, which today, especially in these times, are a prerequisite for the progress of a society. In this regard, we are grateful for the exchange of ideas that Professor Sachs has provided us with today,” President Karan said.
The event was also attended by Acting Director of the Office for International Cooperation of the Republic of Srpska Ana Trišić Babić, Minister of Finance of the Republic of Srpska Zora Vidović, President of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of the Republic of Srpska Academician Prof. Dragoljub Mirjanić, PhD, vice-rectors, deans, professors and students of the University of Banja Luka.
Photo: D. Desnica
