President Milanović: The University of Zagreb is a good university

“The University of Zagreb is a good university,” the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović said today at a formal session of the University Senate, which took place on the occasion of the Day of the University of Zagreb – “Dies Academicus.” Recalling that he himself graduated from the University of Zagreb and then studied abroad, President Milanović particularly highlighted the quality of professors at the University of Zagreb, saying that all his professors at the time could teach at similar schools and universities abroad.

“The set-up of the University is another issue, that’s where we’re catching up. We’re catching up to those who are the best, strongest and of the highest quality. Things haven’t changed much here in recent centuries; the parts were cast long ago. Everyone goes their own way and great success stories are rare,” said the President.

The President spoke about the importance of literacy and pointed out that literacy has always been an enormous advantage. “The one who was literate was always a fatal step ahead of the one who was illiterate,” said President Milanović, telling those present that we should be satisfied with the University of Zagreb’s present-day ranking. “Let’s be aware that this University is ranked well. Because, when you look at those rankings, they show that above the University of Zagreb are those universities that, as a rule, are difficult to compare with,” said President Milanović, explaining that those universities have more money, experience and tradition than us, which makes it irrational for us to set their attainment level as our own goal.

“So this is a happy medium. If we convince ourselves and accept the fact that we can get to a certain point and get the best out of it, that we can compare ourselves to Cambridge, without basing our value on this, we will be fine. We will move on and use European funds,” President Milanović concluded.

Also speaking at the formal session of the Senate of the University of Zagreb, apart from President Milanović, were the Rector of the University of Zagreb Stjepan Lakušić, President of the Student Council of the University of Zagreb Ivona Josipović, President of the Croatian Rectors’ Conference Dragan Ljutić, Vice President of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts (HAZU) and delegate of the President of HAZU Academician Frano Parać, Mayor of Zagreb Tomislav Tomašević, State Secretary in the Ministry of Science and Education and delegate of the Prime Minister Ivica Šušak, and Member of the Croatian Parliament and delegate of the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Vesna Bedeković.

President Milanović was accompanied by the Adviser to the President of the Republic for Education Jadranka Žarković and Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for the Economy Velibor Mačkić.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Dario Andrišek