International Burch University (IBU) and INZA (Risk Management Institute) have established a fruitful partnership aimed at enhancing innovation, personnel development, and joint projects. This partnership is based on the complementary activities of the two institutions and their willingness to collaborate. INZA advisor Dr. Edin Garaplija, Mr. Senid Osmanković, the technical director of the company, Senad Džanko, the branch director in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Ms. Sara Prguda, an expert in enterprise modernization and project management, are key figures in realising this collaboration.
The delegation from International Burch University was represented by Rector Prof. Dr. Mersid Poturak, Rector's advisor for education and student affairs Prof. Dr. Ahmed El Sayed, and Secretary General Mr. Adil Bilalić. Prof. Dr. Mersid Poturak emphasised that there are many complementary activities between the two institutions that provide a solid foundation for collaboration.
IBU and INZA have established a framework for collaboration based on the following activities:
- Participation in the implementation of domestic and international projects of mutual interest.
- Establishment, development, and maintenance of joint research programs, lifelong learning programs, conferences, and workshops.
- Joint application for projects, both national and international, in accordance with pre-regulated rights and obligations through specific agreements.
- Collaboration in organising events in the field of business services and other areas of mutual interest.
- Establishment, development, and maintenance of applied joint educational programs in the fields of entrepreneurship, lifelong learning, skill development, and new education, as well as programs for young entrepreneurs at both national and international levels.
- Involvement of INZA staff in delivering parts of the curriculum at IBU through guest lectures, semester engagements, professional and academic mentorship.
- Mutual promotion (on their respective websites and social media) of new projects, events, and competitions.
- Joint implementation of mandatory internships for IBU students within INZA.
- Other activities of mutual interest.
IBU recognises INZA as a reliable partner and engages in collaboration with companies and institutions through master's and doctoral study programs, as well as numerous market-oriented projects. Participation in EU projects, such as Horizon 2020, is also an opportunity for collaboration, and INZA already has many partners from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina, the region, and the European Union in such projects.
It is important to note that the majority of IBU students have gone through INZA, meaning that INZA can offer practical experiences to IBU students. INZA particularly focuses on the development of project activities and specialisation of personnel for such projects. Through an accreditation system, INZA organises training panels, researches materials, and has recently been certified for writing projects within the EU framework.
Furthermore, INZA has a wealth of experience and a market position that contributes to their reputation as a reliable partner. There is a joint application on the Horizon platform, where INZA, German and Austrian partners, and the Efektis Group, a French-Dutch-Turkish consortium, are involved in projects. INZA has scheduled a conference in agreement with the Ministry of Security, and IBU has been invited to be a partner at this event.
INZA and IBU have a wide range of projects and activities, and in technical aspects, INZA provides mentorship to students, accepts them, and integrates them into projects. INZA advisor Dr. Edina Garaplija was recently appointed as an associate professor at the Nikola Tesla Institute in Serbia, which is another proof of the institution's quality and expertise.
As an adaptable university, IBU actively integrates companies and partners into the review of study programs and considers their feedback on the relevance of subjects. INZA's flagship projects, such as the protection mechanism in the EU and the project in Lund, Slovenia, are also relevant to IBU. This collaboration opens up opportunities for the development of scientific research projects.
In line with this, operational meetings have been agreed upon to further discuss collaboration plans and next steps between INZA and IBU. This partnership presents an exceptional opportunity for IBU students to gain practical experience, develop their skills, and be part of innovation and development in collaboration with reputable institutions like INZA.
The continuation of this partnership brings numerous opportunities for both partners and contributes to the development of higher education, innovation, and research in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
