University of Sarajevo

Mission Statement

The Faculty of Architecture at the University of Sarajevo was established as a regionally needed and recognized technical faculty, initially supported by similar faculties in Belgrade, Zagreb, and Ljubljana. It emerged as a distinct institution known for the "Sarajevo school of architecture", integrating European influences and knowledge from Prague and Vienna.

The mission of the Faculty is to train professional technical staff in architecture, design, urban planning, and planning, equipping them with the knowledge and practical experiences to address real-world architectural and urban challenges. The faculty aims to educate students to be mindful of the natural and built environments and to be sensitive to historical, ecological, ethical, and cultural values.

The faculty is committed to empowering future generations by providing opportunities to develop creative skills through professional architectural education. It fosters critical engagement essential for societal well-being and progress and prepares students to lead in complex built and natural environments.

The faculty strives to maintain contemporary scientific and educational standards, offering innovative and internationally recognized education and continuously improving its curriculum. Through its academic, social, and cultural activities, the faculty seeks to foster public discourse on urban space and architectural expression, promote critical thinking, and enable students to learn from past experiences to bridge the gap between theory and practice.

The Faculty of Architecture actively participates in research projects and maintains communication and collaboration among researchers, engaging with national and international academic institutions and agencies. It aims to foster dialogue and represent both the faculty and the country in local, regional, and international research platforms, connecting with local communities to address their needs and attract students from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the region, and worldwide.

International Role

International cooperation is a key aspect of the continuous improvement of study quality at the Faculty of Architecture, contributing to new experiences for students and faculty. Main activities include establishing new partnerships, maintaining existing ones through agreements, and participating in programs like Erasmus+ and CEEPUS. The commission members are also actively involved in writing applications for projects, which is expected to continue based on positive outcomes experienced previously.

1. Student and Staff Exchange:

   • The faculty has bilateral agreements with universities in Bari, Brno, Matera (Potenza), Ferrara, Stuttgart, and others, allowing students to attend courses at these institutions and gain new knowledge and exposure to different educational systems. There is high interest in these opportunities, with hopes for increasing future mobility.
   • Faculty members have had opportunities for professional development through guest lectures and networking under the Erasmus+ and CEEPUS programs.
   • A new agreement with the University of Sofia in Bulgaria has been signed, and negotiations for additional agreements are ongoing.
   • The exchange process at the faculty is efficiently facilitated by the council's approval and the commitment of students to fulfill their obligations. The introduction of the new information system e-unsa has streamlined the integration of courses and grades from partner institutions into the faculty's grading system.

2. International Projects/Applications:

   • The International Cooperation Commission has been intensely preparing several applications for local and international projects. Previous experiences with projects like HURBE and HERD have been valuable.
   • One notable project, the Architectural Pop-Up Lab Exchange (APLE) under the Erasmus+ Capacity Building, is led by the Faculty of Architecture in Sarajevo. It aims to bridge contemporary architectural education with the dynamic changes and needs of the job market. This 36-month project, starting April 2023, includes participants from the Western Balkans and EU partners and will involve studies, workshops with partners, and pop-up labs to enhance digital skills.

National Role

The Faculty of Architecture in Sarajevo was founded in 1949. It has been seven and a half decades since the architecture program was established, known today as the Faculty of Architecture in Sarajevo. Over these 75 years, generations of students have chosen this creative and humane profession and embarked on various life paths. Despite significant changes, including shifts in socio-economic conditions, transformations in the teaching process, changes in legal regulations, faculty, and working conditions, the faculty has always strived to maintain a high-quality profile and competence of its students, the future architects. The impact and outcomes of this higher education institution in the societal system of values are best illustrated by the achievements and recognition gained by its faculty and over 4500 graduated architects, as well as its current students. The faculty's unique program content, focused on the multicultural environment and elements of the existing culture, artistic and architectural heritage, housing traditions, relationship to nature, neighborhood, and community organization, has manifested in the distinctive "Sarajevo School of Architecture." This tradition has educated generations of students who have successfully translated their affinity into contemporary architectural expressions, thus promoting their creativity and the faculty they attended.

Main Focus

Main orientation is on educating engeneers of Architecture and Urban designers