University, SSST formalize collaborative agreement

UNC Charlotte and Sarajevo School of Science and Technology (SSST) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to initiate joint projects and to partner on scientific research programs common to both institutions.

“This historic agreement provides a venue by which UNC Charlotte students and faculty can collaborate on research interests that benefit the world,” said Tom Reynolds, associate provost and dean of the Graduate School. He noted that SSST is a great university, located in a great city (the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina), and the agreement “builds an infrastructure and puts in place a foundation to establish similar connections to other universities across the world, broadening UNC Charlotte’s global presence.”

Ejup Ganić, SSST’s chancellor, rector and founder, stated UNC Charlotte is a “very powerful scientific research institution.” In addition to the universities collaborating on research programs in areas such as computer science, information systems, economics, political science and modern languages, SSST and UNC Charlotte will provide opportunities for faculty exchanges, and SSST master’s students will be able to pursue joint doctoral studies at UNC Charlotte, he explained.

Mirsad Hadzikadic, professor of software and information systems and director of the Complex Systems Institute in the College of Computing and Informatics, said the agreement would have a number of benefits for UNC Charlotte, including access to European research funding agencies that would enhance the viability of research proposals for U.S. funding agencies that are interested in supporting issues related to global stability. He added the agreement would enable UNC Charlotte to recruit top Ph.D. students from across Southeast Europe; the majority will enroll with at least one year of education completed at SSST.

Reynolds and Hadzikadic were members of a UNC Charlotte delegation that visited SSST in October 2012. Ganić and other SSST officials completed a trip to UNC Charlotte earlier this year.

Established in 2004, SSST is the first private University in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is dedicated to providing high quality, internationally competitive education and up-to-date programs.