On April 17, 2025, the International University of Sarajevo (IUS) and the Public Institution General Hospital "Prim. Dr. Abdulah Nakaš" signed an Agreement on Scientific and Academic Cooperation. This agreement lays the foundation for a long-term partnership between IUS and Departments of the General Hospital in establishing and implementing academic programs within the IUS Faculty of Medical Sciences.
The agreement was signed by Prof. Dr. Ismet Gavrankapetanović, Director of the General Hospital and Prof. Dr. Ahmet Yildirim, Rector of IUS. Dr. Gavrankapetanović emphasized that the institution is currently in the process of acquiring University Hospital status and that once the necessary conditions are met, the hospital will be fully prepared to serve as a teaching base, offering its facilities and expertise to support IUS’s educational mission.
During the meeting, Rector Yildirim presented the vision for this strategic collaboration. He outlined plans to jointly develop study programs in medicine and dentistry that would grant students double diplomas. These programs are envisioned in cooperation with the prestigious Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi (University of Health Sciences) in the Republic of Türkiye, marking a major step forward in the internationalization of medical education in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The significance of this partnership extends beyond academic programming. Prof. Dr. Azra Husić-Selimović, specialist in internal medicine and subspecialist in gastroenterohepatology, highlighted the clinical expertise the hospital can offer to enrich the educational experience of future students. Dr. Sc. Med. Lejla Vidović, Assistant Director for Medical Affairs and specialist in anesthesiology and resuscitation, also emphasized the hospital's readiness to actively participate in the academic development of future healthcare professionals.
From the IUS side, Doc. Dr. Jasmin Šutković, Head of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Jahja Imamović, Legal and Administrative Advisor to the Rector, also took part in the discussions. They underscored the broader potential of the agreement, not only for joint academic programs but also for collaborative research, innovation projects, and professional development initiatives.
Given that English is the primary language of instruction at IUS, the agreement also lays the groundwork for future protocols on advanced professional and language training for hospital personnel involved in the academic process at the Faculty of Medical Sciences.
This partnership opens exciting prospects for joint academic, scientific, and research-based initiatives, bringing together clinical practice and higher education in a shared mission to prepare future medical experts through internationally recognized programs.
