Over 5,000 graduates of the Sarajevo University threw their caps at a solemn graduation ceremony held Saturday at the Zetra Olympic Hall.
“During the past seven decades, the University of Sarajevo has promoted more than 166,000 undergraduates, more than 18,000 graduates and over 3,000 postgraduates. That means the University of Sarajevo marked the whole century of Bosnian society with its staff, their ideas, contributions, stands and relations,” said Sarajevo University Principal Rifat Skrijelj, greeting the crowd of 5,246 graduates, their families and friends.
“Be proud of yourselves and your success, because by ending your studies you are entering a whole new world, the world that is burdened today with many dilemmas and challenges, (the world) that has special expectations from you, given your academic success,” he added.
The ceremony was attended by head of the Bosnian government, Denis Zvizdic, who pointed out that the graduates must know how to appreciate the knowledge they gained and that they are the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Today is the day that divides the two stages of your lives. The student one which is unforgettable, which you remember forever and is full of enthusiasm, which ends today, and the second stage which starts and which is more serious and more responsible, therefore a lot more challenging and inventive,” Zvizdic said.
He emphasised that now the former students must be “aware of the fact they gained the knowledge at the best and the oldest University in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
Harun Iseric, a law student and one of the graduates with the highest grade average, addressed the ceremony and conveyed a message to his colleagues.
“Education is our weapon, said Nelson Mandela. We must not fear from using that weapon in order to serve to the public interest,” he said.
