The central celebration of University of Split’s 50th anniversary and its Senate’s formal session took place June 14 at the Croatian National Theater in Split. On that occasion, Rector, prof. Dragan Ljutić Ph.D., pointed University's rich history as well as its rapid development.
'Past five and a half years have been marked by numerous infrastructure projects. We are in the process of realizing the project of a new student dormitory for which the Government paid complete project documentation, including Scientific-Research Center’s building. We got the wonderful MedILS’ space, where we plan to have an institute.
From the beginning, our slogan was “students, students, students”. Infrastructure has no meaning without them?! Accordingly, we introduced numerous new study programs such as Hotel Management and Gastronomy, Psychology in English, Communications and Media, Mediterranean Agriculture. We are doing everything we can in order to start the study for speech therapy.
We are continuously enabling progress of personnel and everyone wants to cooperate with our scientists. Scientific productivity is indicated by the fact that out of 15,396 published scientific papers since establishment, 6,500 of them were published in the last five years. University of Split is a member of numerous alliances; such as European University of the Sea. Student mobility - incoming and outgoing - increased by 30%. We are proud to be on all lists of the world's best universities; last year we were positioned between the 401st and 600th places on Times Higher Education, and this year we are between 201st and 300th. It is an extraordinary message to young people that it is worth studying in Split,' said Rector Ljutić.
Among many prominent guests, Croatian Prime Minister, Andrej Plenković, joined the ceremony in the packed Croatian National Theater in Split. He pointed out that University of Split is extremely important for science, education and the polycentric development of Croatia.
"Great results were achieved in terms of number of students, programs, research centers, international cooperation at European level. I look forward to successes many students will achieve later in their careers, and I congratulate University of Split for its contribution in developing Dalmatia and Croatia,” Prime Minister Plenković said.
The Minister of Science and Education, Radovan Fuchs, addressed the representatives of the media. He said that Split should absolutely be proud of its University, just as University is of its home town.
"The university made tremendous leaps forward in study programs, quality of studies and number of students. It definitely branched out international cooperation; there are a lot of joint studies with world universities and is following European scientific area trends,' Minister Fuchs said.
Osijek University’s Rector, Vlado Guberac, Deputy President of the Rectors' Association, on behalf of assembled rectors of Croatian universities, said that he was impressed by University of Split’s successes. He said that they should stick together in order to be stronger, not only as Croatian academic community, but also outside its borders.
Ivica Puljak said, as Mayor of Split and university professor, that he is extremely proud of the University of Split’s development.
“I put my professorship on hold, in order to fully dedicate myself to the job of Mayor, but, of course, I miss it. It's a nice activity, I enjoyed it and the City and University cooperate closely,” Mayor Puljak said.
Split-Dalmatia County Prefect, Blaženko Boban, believes that University of Split is a pillar of Split-Dalmatia County’s development.
Member of Parliament, Andro Krstulović Opara, believes that University of Split can contribute to suppress populism, primitivism, and trivialization, that is, it can help reasoned debates reach the public.
Academic Zvonko Kusić, who was awarded honorary doctorate the day before, also addressed everyone. He said that no university recorded the same development University of Split has, and that it is a precedent at the European or even world level.
At the end of the ceremony, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković was presented with a charter, and coach of the Croatian water polo team, Ivica Tucak, and coach of the Croatian soccer team, Zlatko Dalić, were presented with plaques for their outstanding contribution to University of Split.
By: Ana Marasović/Dalmatinski portal
Photo: Ante Mandić
