Dubravka Bošnjak participates in CEEPUS Ministerial Meeting in Budapest

The Minister of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dubravka Bošnjak, participated in the 24th meeting of the Joint Council of Ministers of the Central European Exchange Program for University Studies (CEEPUS), held in Budapest.

The meeting was convened on the occasion of the official commencement of the new CEEPUS IV Agreement, effective May 2025, which aims to enhance the legal and organizational framework for international academic exchange.

Ministers discussed key issues such as legal issues, the adoption of a work program, expansion of membership, and further improvement of network cooperation among higher education institutions.

Ministers discussed the implementation and regulatory elements of the transition to the CEEPUS IV Agreement, and a new Joint Council of Ministers was established. A regulation and work program for the period 2025-2027 were adopted, and rules regarding mobility and scholarships were defined. Special attention was given to the potential inclusion of new countries into the network, as well as strengthening cooperation through joint study programs and faculty exchange among higher education institutions in the member states. Additionally, Mr. Michael Schedl was re-elected as the Secretary General of CEEPUS for another seven-year term.

Minister Bošnjak, speaking on behalf of Bosnia and Herzegovina, confirmed that the process of ratifying the CEEPUS IV Agreement in Bosnia and Herzegovina is in its final stages, and expressed the country's commitment to further developing academic mobility and strengthening regional cooperation. She also welcomed activities aimed at the possible inclusion of additional countries into the CEEPUS network, including Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of shared European values in education.

"CEEPUS holds special significance for Bosnia and Herzegovina as the only multilateral international exchange program in which our country holds full membership status, so we are particularly pleased with the shared commitment to continuing the implementation of the Program." – highlighted Minister Bošnjak.

Bosnia and Herzegovina also supported the approval of additional scholarships for Ukrainian scientists, expressing solidarity and hope for a swift return of peace to the country.

During the meeting, the increase in the scholarship quota allocated by Bosnia and Herzegovina under the CEEPUS program was also welcomed, from 152 to 190 monthly scholarships for the 2025/2026 academic year.

As part of the 24th CEEPUS Ministerial Meeting, with the aim of enhancing cooperation and implementing the CEEPUS agreement, Minister Bošnjak also held bilateral meetingswith the Hungarian Minister of Culture and Innovation, Balázs Hanko, and with the Deputy Minister for Education, Youth, and Sports of the Czech Republic, Jaroslav Miller.

The first CEEPUS Agreement was signed in 1993, and through this exchange program, over 100,000 monthly scholarships have been provided in 15 European member countries.

Bosnia and Herzegovina joined the CEEPUS program in 2007, and from the 2008/09 academic year to 2024/25, over 3,000 monthly scholarships have been awarded to Bosnian and Herzegovinian professors and students for stays at foreign partner universities.

During the same period, more than 1,500 monthly scholarships have been granted for visits of professors and students to Bosnian and Herzegovinian universities.

One of the key elements of the CEEPUS program is the scholarships that allow students to financially cover their stay in the host country as well as academic activities during their exchange.

Scholarships are available for various durations of stay, from short-term mobilities to semester or year-long exchanges.

In addition to financial support, students have the opportunity to broaden their academic horizons, experience new cultures, and gain invaluable international experience.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs, as the signatory of the CEEPUS agreement, is responsible for the implementation of the Program and coordination of program activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, while the entity ministries of education are responsible for fulfilling financial obligations, i.e., disbursing scholarships to visiting students and professors.

Since its inception, the CEEPUS program has enabled students and professors from Bosnia and Herzegovina to join university networks, thereby gaining valuable academic experiences and professional contacts. The number of university networks in which Bosnian higher education institutions participate, and consequently the opportunities available to Bosnian students and professors, has grown over the years, from an initial 11 networks to more than 90 networks involving universities from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

For more information about the program and application details, interested students can contact the national coordinators within the Ministry of Civil Affairs or visit the official program website.