The Memorandum of Understanding on the construction of the building of the Faculty of Economics in Bujanovac, which will be financed by the Coordination Body of the Government of the Republic of Serbia for the Municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja and the EU Delegation to Serbia, was signed by the Mayor of Bujanovac Nagip Arifi and the Dean of the Subotica Faculty of Economics Nenad Vunjak. 

The signing ceremony was attended by the President of the Coordination Body Zoran Stankovic, the Minister of Education in the Technical Government of the Republic of Serbia Tomislav Jovanovic, the Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia Peter Burkhard and a representative of the UN Office for Project Services Greame Tyndall.  

The President of the Coordination Body for the Municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja, Zoran Stankovic, said after the signing of the MoU at the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Belgrade, that by the construction of the building of the Faculty of Economics, Bujanovac would become a university town, and, thus, modern requirements for teaching in Albanian and Serbian would be met and the economic development and political stability would be ensured.
 

Mr. Stankovic pointed out that the construction of the facility would be funded by the EU, through a donor, with 1.2 million euros, while the Coordination Body would provide 30 million dinars and the municipality of Bujanovac everything else that was necessary.

The Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development in the Government of Serbia Tomislav Jovanovic expressed satisfaction with the signed document, pointing out that its implementation, which was in accordance with the applicable laws and the European practice, would solve the problem of higher education in the southern part of central Serbia. Minister Jovanović pointed out that the education of young people at that institution of higher education would contribute to the economic development not only of Bujanovac, but also of the entire region. 

Ambassador Davenport said that the signing of the MoU was "perhaps the most important step in building a true institution of higher education in Bujanovac."

“The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding provides the conditions for a long-term development of higher education in this area, which is in full compliance with the relevant laws of Serbia and with the respect for the needs of the local self-government and the citizens," he said. 

Ambassador Davenport said that he was pleased to confirm the readiness of the EU to fund, together with the Serbian government, the construction of the building "as soon as all the remaining legal and technical requirements are met". 

"The building of the facility will make it possible for young people from Bujanovac and the entire area, who are Albanian, Serbian, Roma and others,  to exercise their right to education and to develop their potential. It will make it possible for them to plan their future in their town instead of planning to leave their town," he said. 

Ambassador Burkhard said that the signing of the memorandum was "a key step towards a final solution for the Faculty of Economics’ Department in Bujanovac".  

He recalled that the OSCE Mission to Serbia, especially its office in Bujanovac, had worked for years on that project, which was in the field of higher education, and that it provided many opportunities to young people. 

Mr. Tyndall said that the UN Office for Project Services supported the construction of the institution of higher education in Bujanovac, as well as that it wished to be a good partner of the EU and the Government of Serbia on the implementation of the project. 

Mr. Arifi and Mr. Vunjak also expressed satisfaction with the signed memorandum, into the  implementation of which all the relevant stakeholders involved in the project had put great efforts.  Mr. Arifi said that "as of today, Bujanovac may be called a university town," pointing out that that institution would also contribute to the "economic development and political stability “.

“Where schools and faculties are built, prisons are closed down, "Mr. Arifi said, pointing out that that was just done by signing the Memorandum of Understanding.  

The Subotica Faculty of Economics’ Department in Bujanovac has been operating for three years. It is currently attended by 256 Albanian, Serbian and Roma students, while the fourth generation of students will be enrolled in the fall, so that it is expected that it would be attended by around 350 students next school year.

Source: Tanjug News Agency and the Coordination Body