24.02.2012.

Marking the day of the University of Defense

A Ceremony in the Great Hall of the old army HQ was held today to mark the day of the University of Defence Ministry of Defence, the youngest institution of higher education in the academic community of our country.

The event was attended by Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac, Minister of Education Zarko Obradovic, members of the Council of Chancellors of Serbian University Conference, the chancellor of the University of Defence of the Czech Republic Professor Rudolph Urban with associates, representatives of academia and public and cultural life, as well as numerous guests.

On this occasion Minister Sutanovac stressed the importance of this military education institution for the army and the state as well.

Speaking about the significance of today's anniversary, General Jevtic pointed out that with the establishment of the military institutions all available resources have been integrated while educational process has been harmonized with the academic community of Serbia.

- In the process, we decided to respect the history and tradition and values created for centuries in the past, but also to firmly confront the present times and fight for a better tomorrow. This important state project has functionally incorporated all educational, scientific and research potential of the Military Academy and the Military Medical Academy in Belgrade - General Jevtic said, adding that the aim was to create a renowned and referential institution of the Ministry of Defense, of our country and an institution of strategic importance for the defense system and the state of Serbia, the prerequisite for which are knowledge and education.

This idea, he said, was the motto for all those who participated in the creation of the University of Defence, and also it posed a magnificent challenge for creating a profile of a future Serbian officer who has to incorporate the most glorious aspects of our tradition but also of the times we live in.

A modern Serbian officer, both today, and tomorrow, has to possess military honor and a creative force that will be the basis for continuous improvement in line with the achievements of science of defense. Our desire is to create top experts, but through study, training and subsequent career to liberate the creative mind of talented and highly motivated people who are the driving force of progress - said the Rector of the University of Defence, adding that these people are invaluable asset to our military.

According to him, our military health care system has restored its reputation as a recognized brand of our Ministry of Defense home and abroad, noting that the quality of the institution can be seen in the fact that the Conference of Serbian Universities (KONUS) has made the University of Defense its member immediately after its establishing as the support the academic community was present in all segments of the university’s inception.

During the ceremony, Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac was presented with the plaque of KONUS for his contribution to the establishment and development of the University of defense by the Chancellor of Belgrade University. Dr. Branko Kovacevic.

Thanking for the award, Sutanovac stressed the importance of establishing such a military university-level institution both for the education of officers, as for the country as a whole. He noted that within the overall defense reform, the military education as one of the most important segments of the defense system, had also undergone complete reform.

- For many decades the desire and the need to establish such a university matured three years ago when we started with the realization of the idea - said the Minister adding that they were faced with many obstacles on the path towards establishing the university but all doubts were dispelled in 2010 with the all three levels of study programs were accredited.

Furthermore, as he remarked, the university framework became a important part of an officer’s education throughout his life, career training, as of this year we introduced the fourth level of military education, security and defense studies.

- Today there are 846 cadets, including 196 girls and 10 civilians studying in the defense university, with 256 professors and TAs. This year the first generation of PhD studies was enrolled, and we can boast of a few foreign nationals who continued their education in our university- as the defense minister remarked, adding that good study programs, certainty of future employment, opportunity to build a career, and the fact that the degrees obtained in military schools are recognized sparked great interest of young people in our country, as evidenced by the fact we had 6 to 10 candidates applying for one position.

"First and foremost, the objective is to educate highly professional and motivated officers to be fully qualified for all three SAF missions (national defense, participation in peacekeeping missions and assistance to citizens in the event of natural disasters)," said the minister.

The Chancellor of the University of Defence Lt. Gen. prof. Miodrag Jevtic, MD, awarded the first honorary doctorate to his Czech counterpart.

-The Chancellor of the University of Defence of the Czech Republic, Prof. Dr. Rudolf Urban, expressed his satisfaction and gratitude for the recognition he had received, pointing out that this was basically a gesture of friendship, understanding and cooperation between the two universities.

From the start our good cooperation contributed to our being equal partners, and so our relations developed further. I was present when you discussed the name of your school and I am proud to have chosen this name myself because in Europe there are now two Universities of Defence – the Defence University in Brno and the University of Defence in Belgrade, said Professor Urban.

Professor Urban thanked the team of generals and colonels with whom he collaborated, as well as all his Serbian friends, as he remarked at the end.

- Finally, I would like to share my feelings as regards this event. Before I came my wife asked me if I was going to Serbia again to Serbia, and my answer was - I love life, I love you and my Serbian friends.

On behalf of the university community of Serbia comprising 17 accredited universities and 275 thousand students, the Chancellor of Belgrade University Professor Branko Kovacevic, PhD, congratulated the anniversary of the University of Defense stating that the term first anniversary is nothing but a wrong term as regards military education in Serbia. He reminded that the tradition of military education is as old as higher education in our country and that it was thanks to the army that Serbian universities used to rank high in the world.

-In the end we did what any sensible person would do. We connected universities thus preserving the rich tradition that few countries in Europe have and maintained continuity to meet the demands of modern times and a modern state, which is why we introduced military education into the Serbian scientific and higher education system as well as into the European educational community, because the army is a state institution and no state can exist without its army

Professor Kovacevic thanked everyone who helped and participated in the development of the University of Defence, and particularly praised the efforts of Minister Sutanovac.

- I want to thank the Minister of Defence who put in extra effort so that all difficult tasks, formal-legal and other crucial problems be resolved, and thus contributed to establishing the Defence University, its development and linking the military and civilian educational systems. Therefore, 17 chancellors have decided to award this Charter to Minister Sutanovac - said Kovacevic Rector.

By the Decision of the Government of Serbia, the University was founded inBelgrade on 24th February 2011, and by a decree of the president Lieutenant-General Prof. Dr Miodrag Jevtic was appointed the first chancellor.

The University comprises the Faculty of Medicine, Military Medical Academy (VMA) with a program of study in medicine and the Military Academy of the two study programs in the field of humanities and technical -technological sciences.

The main goal and task of the Defence University is harmonization of academic and research potential in the defense and in that context in collaboration with other universities in Serbia contribute to the academic and scientific - research community of the Republic of Serbia.

The establishment of the University of Defense created the conditions forconducting all three levels of study programs, which include bachelor and integrated studies, master studies, postgraduate and doctoral studies. The University of Defence headquarters is at 1 Pavla Jurisica Sturma Street.

ANSWERS TO REPORTERS QUESTIONS

Speaking of our country's candidacy for EU membership after the current events in Pristina, Sutanovac said that he was convinced that we were closer to candidacy than ever, reminding that Serbia has received a recommendation of the European Commission. He added that the job is not finished and that getting the obtaining the EU candidacy status means new job openings in Serbia.

Regarding the situation in northern Kosovo after the removal of barricades Sutanovac said he did not think that the roadblocks which the people and goods from moving freely on this site may be in the best interests of citizens living in Kosovo or in that part of Serbia. Removing roadblocks was not, done to meet the demands of Brussels, but it was done in the best interest of those live in that part of Serbia.

- Unfortunately, there is still a minority usurping this right, but we will not allow them to hinder movement within Serbia, or to stop Serbia on its path to European integration - said Minister Sutnovac.

A regards the invitation extended to Serbia to join the Visegrad Group, Sutanovac said joining this association would be considered carefully.

- The Visegrad group is a very important and important topic for us. It includes several countries that have extensive experience in peacekeeping missions, the countries that have proved themselves in these integrations as friendly countries that support us, but first we will have to analyze our resources, primarily finance and later human resources. I think we will have an answer relatively quickly, but we will not rush to give a hasty response - said Sutanovac.

CEREMONIOUS SESSION OF THE CONFERENCE OF UNIVERSITIES OF SERBIA

On the occasion of the University of Defence today at the Chancery of the University of Defence, a formal session of the Conference of Universities of Serbia (KONUS) was held today attended by the chancellors of accredited state and private colleges of the the academic community of Serbia.

Congratulating the holiday, the chairman of the Conference of Universities of Serbia, Belgrade University Rector Prof. dr. Branko Kovacevic said today that Defense University is a blend of tradition meeting the demands of a modern state and the military. General took this opportunity to thank the present for their support in forming this university level military educational institution.

Shortly before the meeting, the Chancellors of defense universities of Serbia and the Czech Republic Generals Jevtic and Urban respectively signed an agreement on technical cooperation which formalizes cooperation of our University and the University of Defence in Brno, in the Czech Republic, and envisions modalities of future cooperation.