CONSTRUCTION OF THE BUILDING OF THE FACULTY OF ECONOMICS’ DEPARTMENT BEGINS

The project of construction of the building of the Faculty of Economics’ Department is a partnership project of the Government of the Republic of Serbia , the municipality of Bujanovac , the Faculty of Economics , the European Union and the Government of Switzerland, and it will provide an opportunity for current and future students to receive education in a modern and well -equipped facility. The European Union will provide funds for the construction of the building, through the European PROGRESS program, in the amount of 800. 000 euros, while it is planned that the municipality of Bujanovac and the Government of Serbia, through the Coordination Body , support the project with about 280. 000 euros. The works will start by the end of the year, whereas their completion, if the weather permits, is expected by next October.  

Michael Davenport, the Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, along with Zoran Stankovic, the President of the Coordination Body for the Municipalities of Presevo , Bujanovac and Mevedja , Nagip Arifi, the Mayor of Bujanovac, Nenad Vunjak, the Dean of the Faculty of Economics in Subotica,  and Ambassador Peter Burkhard, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia , visited the construction site in Bujanovac and announced the beginning of construction of the building of the Subotica Faculty of Economics’ Department  in Bujanovac.  

“We have jointly made ​​an enormous progress and I am pleased to confirm that the European Union, together with the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the municipality, will finance the construction of the buildings and will continue, directly or indirectly , to be involved in the project“, said Ambassador Davenport during a tour of the construction site.  

Zoran Stankovic, the President of the Coordination Body for the Municipalities of Presevo , Bujanovac and Medvedja ,  reminded that the beginning of construction works on the Faculty’s building was the result of great persistence and tolerance of all the partners and donors and that it proved that  that was the only way to achieve set goals, which were common to everyone - better life for all citizens of South Serbia.   

“This is a great event for students from the Albanian, Serbian, Roma and other communities living in Bujanovac and the surrounding municipalities. I thank all the partners involved in the project and hope that as early as the next school year, the number of enrolled students from Bujanovac and beyond will increase“, said Mayor Nagip Arifi.  

The Faculty of Economics from Subotica, which is part of the University of Novi Sad , opened  its department in Bujanovac in 2011. It  currently offers students the opportunity to attend three accredited study programs : marketing , finance , banking and insurance and agri-business and agro - economy. So far, four generations of students have successfully enrolled in the Faculty ,wheras  a total of 302 students with the Albanian, Serbian and Roma ethnic backgrounds attend classes in Serbian and Albanian.  An increase in the number of students raised the issue of adequate space for education, while the construction of the building will result in a long-term solution of the issue.  

Ambassador Davenport, the Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia,  Mr. Vunjak, the Dean of the Faculty of Economics , Mr. Stankovic, the President of the Coordination Body,  and Ambassador Burkhard,  the Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia , met with students who attend classes in Bujanovac and discussed with them in Serbian  the European Union’s plans to support employment  and the achievement of better living conditions for the young in that part of the country , as well as  the importance of the European integration for the young. 

Source: Coordination Body of the Government of the Republic of Serbia