Minister Mastilović in first working visit to UNIBL

The Minister for Scientific Technological Development and Higher Education of the Republic of Srpska, Prof. Draga Mastilović, PhD, came to his first working visit to the University of Banja Luka (UNIBL) on 2 February 2026 and met with the Rector, Prof. Radoslav Gajanin, PhD, and rector’s team.

During the meeting in the Rectorate of the Unievrsity of Banja Luka they discussed the future projects, academic cooperation and improvement of higher education.

Rector Gajanin emphasized the significance of the support the University gets from the Ministry, pointing out that planned goals can be realizedonly by joining forces and efforts.

“One of the project activities we plan together with the competent Ministry is the construction of the Scientific-Technological Park of the Republic of Srpska in the University Campus, and construction of a Medical Campus in Paprikovac that would house the Faculty of Medicine with all its study programs”, said Gajanin and added that they also discussed about a Center for Higher Education in Prijedor.

Minister Mastilović expressed his satisfaction for the increased number of enrolled students to public universities in the RS this year, and announced continued support and improvement of student’s standard.

“The Ministry will be here to work jointly on improvement of studying conditions, but also on development of scientific research activity, which will be in our focus”, said Mastilović. 

He stressed that the Republic of Srpska offers students exceptional conditions, including free education, housing, and food subsidies in dormitories.

The Minister added that as of next academic year the scholarships from the RS Budget will be increased from 200 to 300 KM, and that the scholarships from the “Dr Milan Jelić” fund will also be increased. The continued efforts on improvement of student’s dormitories were also mentioned.

After the meeting, the Rector and the Minister took a tour of the University Campus, the building of the Academy of Arts, the Center for supporting the students with disabilities, where there are ongoing works in internal reparation, as well as the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, where the energy efficiency works are in the final stage.

The meeting with the Minister, besides the Vice-Rectors of the University of Banja Luka, was also attended by the Assistant Minister for Higher Education, Docent Jelena Starčević, PhD, and an Advisor to the Minister, Prof. Željana Jovičić, PhD.

Photo: D. Desnica