- Combining past with present, and thanks to never interrupting classes, even in the most turbulent times, the Faculty was and remains the source of the Croatian state building and free spirit, guardian of Croatian heritage and Central European legal tradition. The Faculty of Law passes on what is most valuable from generation to generation of teachers and students: knowledge, national identity and awareness of the need to serve the homeland - said assoc. prof. Ratko Brnabić Ph.D., Faculty of Law in Split’s Dean, at the formal celebration of the 60th anniversary of Faculty’s foundation and operation, held on Friday, December 17.

Together with the Faculty’s management, headed by the Dean Brnabić and Vice-Deans, as well as that of the University, led by Rector prof. Dragan Ljutić Ph.D., the celebration was attended by prof. Radovan Fuchs Ph.D., Minister of Science and Education, Ivan Malenica Ph.D., Minister of Justice and Administration, Ante Sanader, Vice President of the Croatian Parliament, Academic Arsen Bačić, Envoy of HAZU’s President Velimir Neidhart, Blaženko Boban, Split-Dalmatia County Prefect, Members of Parliament, court representatives and colleagues from other law faculties, heads of other University of Split components, faculty staff, students and many others.

Dean Brnabić pointed out that there are a number of different levels of study available at the Faculty of Law. It is interesting to note that, to date, 8,334 students graduated from the integrated undergraduate and graduate university study of law and about 2,600 from the undergraduate professional administrative study and specialist graduate professional and administrative study. There are also postgraduate specialist study of sports’ and medical law as well as postgraduate PhD study of medical law.

Rector Ljutić pointed out that this institution is one of our University’s core components.

- Today, Split is a beautiful, strong city that is progressing, to which the University owes a lot in every sense. Our University and staff, eminent professors and scientists have developed a Strategy for the Development of the City of Split and among them the Faculty of Law leads the way. It can’t have been easy to reach this level of recognition the Faculty of Law has, not only within our University, our region or state, but on a much bigger level - said Rector Ljutić.

- The cooperation this faculty has with the University of Paris II, ongoing since 2007, is commendable. This is exactly the trend of what is being discussed and promoted in the European Commission - forming a European Higher Education Area based on alliances of European universities, and the aim is to harmonize higher education as much as possible, which would eventually lead to automatic recognition of degrees and joint study programmes. This faculty is absolutely headed that way - said Minister Fuchs, congratulating the Faculty of Law on six decades of its existence.

Minister Malenica stated that the Faculty of Law in Split has proven its quality working with students and quality staff is precisely what is important in the sector of justice and administration, for both the judicial system and public administration.

- Faculty of Law in Split, with its new specialist study of public administration and doctoral study, leads the way in education in this field. I wish it a lot of success in future work. I would point out Croatian-French Administrative Law Days as a great project of cooperation between Split’s Faculty of Law and Paris Faculty of Law, which during 15 years come up with numerous proposals for change, especially concerning administrative litigation - said Minister Malenica, also remembering his student days at this Faculty.

With greetings and best wishes from the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts’ President, Academic Neidhardt, Arsen Bačić emphasized the importance of celebrating 60 years of live dialogue with an extraordinary group of professors and students who contributed to and changed our reality during their studies, but also later on.