It is a special honor and pleasure, as well as a great responsibility and privilege, as the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sarajevo, to write the introductory words for this monograph on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Faculty.
Having been a student of this Faculty, attending courses at the Medical and Faculty of Science, as well as partly at this Faculty, I have witnessed the development of our institution. I am fully aware of the rapid and successful progress that our Faculty has achieved. Before my term as Dean, I participated in the work and development of the Faculty, first as the student vice-dean during my studies and later as a member of the Faculty’s supervisory and management boards. This allowed me to gain considerable experience in dealing with staffing, financial, and spatial issues related to the organization, as well as the educational, scientific-research, and administrative work of the Faculty.
Each term of deanship has been marked by unique challenges, arising from specific phases of internal development as well as from the complex and dynamic nature of the societal and governmental framework within which we operate, which have significantly influenced our potential for growth. Nevertheless, despite all difficulties, the last fifty years have witnessed a continuous progress and governance , which have led to the commendable results we have achieved, even through turbulent times marked by war.
The Faculty gained special international recognition during the XIV Winter Olympic Games in 1984, where doping control of all participants was carried out at our Faculty. During that period, the Faculty saw significant technological and material growth. Four gas chromatographs were purchased, as well as a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry system, a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system, an infrared spectrophotometer, a UV/VIS spectrophotometer, and other important equipment that greatly benefited the scientific research at the Faculty.
I would particularly like to emphasize that since 2015, our Faculty has held an ISO 9001:2015 certification, which we maintain continually, demonstrating our commitment to quality and the continuous improvement of our processes. The implementation of this internationally recognized standard confirms that our Faculty meets highquality management criteria in all segments, including teaching, research, and administrative work. The annual renewal of this certification is a significant impetus for further development and improvement.
Besides ISO certification and significant achievements in our Faculty’s development, I would like to highlight the project entitled „Innovating Quality Assessment Tools for Pharmacy Studies in Bosnia and Herzegovina“ (IQPharm), which was carried out from 2021 to 2024. As the coordinators of this Erasmus+ project, our Faculty played a key role in modernizing pharmacy studies in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The focus of the project was on aligning study programs with European standards, improving the quality of education by introducing innovative assessment tools, and strengthening practical training. This project enabled our students to acquire key competencies needed for successful careers in the pharmaceutical sector, enhancing their theoretical and practical knowledge.
IQPharm brought numerous benefits, most notably the improvement of curricula quality, increased mobility of students and staff, and strengthened cooperation with international partners. This project further solidified the Faculty’s position as a leader in pharmaceutical education in the region, enhancing the capabilities of our teaching staff and students to meet challenges of modern pharmaceutical practice. After ISO certification and the successful completion of the IQPharm project, we should all be proud of our achievements. Both the evaluation by the European Commission and our self-assessment highlight what we have repeatedly conveyed to our relevant institutions and the Government: the lack of adequate space is our greatest obstacle. Despite these problems, the Faculty has grown into a respectable scientific and developmental institution in our society, with numerous renowned academic experts. However, even a small effort and additional funding would significantly improve the work of the Faculty and the education of professionals needed by this country and society. Fortunately, great strides have been made in the international promotion of the Faculty in recent years.
It is also important to mention the understanding shown by the Rector and the Government, who, in 2018, approved the employment of thirteen teaching assistants, significantly contributing to the strengthening and rejuvenation of the Faculty’s staff. It was the highest number of teaching assistants hired in a single academic year since the Faculty’s establishment. During this period, a notable progress was made in the international promotion of the Faculty, with numerous collaborations established with international institutions, exchange of teaching and nonteaching staff, and impressive results achieved in a much shorter period than many anticipated.
Significant efforts are currently underway in the process of accrediting our study programs through a comprehensive evaluation of our work and the conditions of studying at our Faculty. Given the hard work and substantial progress, I am confident that the evaluation will be excellent. However, the Faculty’s potential and opportunities for development are immense. I have not succeeded in initiating new study programs due to a lack of interest and willingness among a significant number of Faculty professors, and the same is true of the intention to launch academic specializations. One contributing factor may be the Faculty’s position within the public sector, which tends to resist reforms and changes. The future development of the Faculty lies in new study programs, in developing courses that will attract international students, and in adapting the curricula to meet the actual needs of the industry and labor market. Achieving this requires professors to converse more with students rather than about students. The Faculty’s development will also depend heavily on the societal status of pharmacists and the field of pharmacy. Progress in this area requires a comprehensive reform of the pharmaceutical sector. As the Faculty’s reputation, the quality of education, scientific productivity, and international recognition improve, we can hope to attract increasingly better and higher-quality students. Of course, achieving all this will be easier with the potential found among our non-teaching staff, who, like our teaching staff, consider this Faculty their own.
The teaching base the public institution „Apoteke Sarajevo”, which became part of our system in 2022, was a crucial step in improving the educational process at the Faculty. Cooperation with the public institution „Apoteke Sarajevo” has enabled our students to receive quality practical training and link theoretical knowledge with real working environments, which has significantly contributed to the quality of education. Through this collaboration, the Faculty has further strengthened its capacity to provide high-quality education and train future pharmacists who will meet the challenges of the labor market and contribute to the development of pharmaceutical practice in the country and the region. It would be ungrateful not to mention the pillars that provided support and strength to our Faculty through all the turbulence it has faced. I extend my sincere gratitude to the professors from the Faculty of Medicine in Sarajevo, the Faculty of Science in Sarajevo, the Faculty of Pharmacy in Zagreb, the Faculty of Pharmacy in Belgrade, as well as to all those whom I may not have remembered at this moment but who deserve recognition.
Finally, I would like to emphasize that it has been a great honor to humbly serve the Faculty through two terms as Dean, during which the Faculty faced serious financial difficulties and a restricted access to funds. The Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sarajevo, with its rich heritage and clear vision, continues to strive for excellence in education and research, ready to meet all future challenges and educate competent professionals who will contribute to the advancement of pharmaceutical practice and public health.