Dear students,

Welcome to the Pan-European University "APEIRON" Banja Luka, an accredited private higher education institution with a rich tradition and great perspective!

According to all relevant rankings, our university is the leading private higher education institution in the Republic of Srpska, and we are among the three best private higher education institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In its respectable tradition of nearly 20 years, the Pan-European University "APEIRON" Banja Luka has educated and gifted to the domestic and international social community a large number of eminent experts in the various fields for which it is home - economics, law, informatics, sports, healthcare, traffic and philological sciences. .

Our main goals are directed towards meeting the needs of our students, the wider academic and social community in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the international environment, in accordance with the contemporary challenges of today and future development perspectives. This implies the exceptional commitment of the academic and working staff of the Pan-European University "APEIRON" to ensure the continuous improvement of the quality of the university's primary activity - student education, research and scientific work, as well as international cooperation. The focus of our work will be on the quality, innovation and excellence of the services produced by the Pan-European University "APEIRON", in order to provide our current and future students with a successful education, the acquisition of the necessary knowledge and skills, the development of critical thinking and the perspective of choosing a workplace at home and abroad. the labor market.

Dear students, I invite you to approach the process of your studies with a high degree of responsibility and take advantage of the exceptional opportunities for acquiring knowledge provided by the Pan-European University "APEIRON" at one of its 7 faculties and 34 study programs in diploma, master's and doctoral studies. By choosing the Pan-European University "APEIRON" you become part of a distinguished student and academic community that numbers more than 3.000 students.

Be proud that you will become part of the Pan-European University "APEIRON" Banja Luka and contribute to the development of modern society in the country and the world.

Welcome!

Prof. Dr. Sanel Jakupović

rector of Pan-European University APEIRON Banja Luka

In Banja Luka, on October 3, 2023

SPEECH OF PROF.DR SANEL JAKUPOVIĆ, RECTOR OF THE PAN-EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY "APEIRON" BANJA LUKA AT THE CEREMONIAL FIRST CLASS FOR FRESHMEN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 2023/2024 ACADEMIC YEAR

Dear fellow students,

Dear Freshmen,

It was my great honor to greet you all and in my capacity as rector to solemnly open the first class in the new academic year 2023/2024 at the Pan-European University Apeiron in Banja Luka.

In the very introduction of my address, I would like to extend a warm welcome to our, and from today to yours, Pan-European Apeiron University in Banja Luka.

I welcome the present representatives of the parent faculties of Apeiron University - respected colleagues of the deans of the faculties who are sitting on the podium, as well as respected colleagues of the vice-deans and secretaries of the faculties; We also extend our greetings to the administrative and working staff of the Pan-European University of Apeiron who are present at this festive gathering.

Dear fellow students, dear freshmen, on behalf of the founder, academic and working staff of Apeiron University, I would like to thank you most sincerely for the trust you have shown in your decision to pursue your studies at our renowned higher education institution - Apeiron Pan-European University in Banja Luka.

As I mentioned in the introduction, today we open the first class in the academic year 2023/2024 with the traditional act of gathering the new generation of students enrolled in 20 study programs of the first cycle at the 7 parent faculties of the Pan-European University Apeiron - Faculty of Business Economics, Faculty of Legal Sciences, Faculty of Information technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Faculty of Traffic and Faculty of Philological Sciences.

And now I would like to introduce you to the present deans or their authorized representatives of our 7 faculties:
 1) Prof. Dr. Mirjana Landika, Dean of the Faculty of Business Economics,
 2) Prof. dr. Vladimir Đurić, Dean of the Faculty of Legal Sciences,
 3) Prof. Dr. Branko Latinović, Dean of the Faculty of Information Technologies,
 4) Prof. Dr. Ljiljana Bijelić – Stojanović, dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences,
 5) Prof. Dr. Velibor Srdić, Dean of the Faculty of Sports Sciences,
 6) Prof. Dr. Danislav Drašković, Dean of the Faculty of Transportation and
 7) Prof. Katarina Laketić-Držajić, dean of the Faculty of Philological Sciences.

We thank our deans and want to tell you, dear fellow students, that the doors of our deans, their deputies - vice deans, as well as the doors of the faculty secretaries are open to you every day for all questions regarding the implementation of your studies.

Dear freshmen, at the very beginning of this academic year, i.e. in the first weeks of October 2023, as part of mastering the curriculum in the subject Academic Skills, you will be introduced to key information about the work of all organizational units and professional services of the university, such as the Faculty Secretariat, Student Services, Library Management Center, Quality Assurance Office, Library and Reading Room, Information and Technical Support Service, and others.

And now I would like to move on to the part of the presentation that refers to providing key information about the work and achievements of Apeiron University in the past period. Dear freshmen, you must have received key information about our university long before today, when you were considering the options for enrolling in your studies.

As the rector of the University, I am obliged to state some of the most important facts about Apeiron University, according to which we differ significantly in terms of quality from other universities in the Republic of Srpska, the rest of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the regional environment of the Western Balkans, namely:

  and. We have a tradition of 20 years of successful work and activity, throughout that period we have been constantly growing and developing, improving the quality of teaching and scientific research work, as well as international cooperation and professional achievements. All this resulted in the confirmation of quality through decisions on the accreditation of the institution and study programs by the competent authorities of the Republic of Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina;

  ii. The number of students enrolled at our university is far above the average compared to all other private higher education institutions in the Republic of Srpska - we are proud to point out that over 2.500 active students study at our university, and that the teaching process at the university is led and managed by over 200 teachers and associates. many of whom are extremely successful and renowned scientific and social workers in the wider community.

  iii. We have a confirmed high ranking of the quality of our institution and study programs, and in the Republika Srpska, in relation to all private higher education institutions, we rank first, far ahead of all other institutions.

  iv. We have an extremely rich international exchange of students and teachers within the ERASMUS+ program of the European Union. We have Erasmus exchange with 8 countries - Spain, Bulgaria, Serbia, Italy, Turkey, Czech Republic, Slovenia and Poland.

  c. We have an extremely rich offer of online teaching content and learning resources: within our own and MS Teams platform for distance learning (DL), we have over 10.000 hours of recorded video lectures.

  you. We are the only ones in the entire country to realize the American model of teaching cycles: where we teach through 8 cycles spread over the summer and winter semesters during one academic year. In this way, we enable students to master the curriculum dynamically and gradually.

  vii. We offer students an extremely high-quality internship program: We have signed student internship contracts with more than 50 state institutions and private companies from Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

  viii. The diplomas of the Pan-European University Apeiron are recognized and recognized in the professional and academic community both in the country and abroad. In this way, we increase the freedom of choice of work and training of graduated students of Apeiron through work, educational or scientific migrations.

Now, at the beginning of the academic year, I would like to give students a few recommendations to think about.

 1) My first suggestion is: Join the student organization or Student Parliament of Apeiron University. Those who are active and involved in the organization in their spare time will gain better knowledge and skills during their years of study and, of course, will make friends for life.

 2) Second recommendation: From the very beginning of your studies, familiarize yourself with good study practices at the university and find out what academic fraud is. Advances in technology have brought you plenty of opportunities to make your studies easier, but remember that you came to college to learn and grow. We need honesty above all else! Self-study is the best training for your brain and a guarantee of a healthy mind. If you are used to working hard, it will be easier for you to stay on track and develop further later in life.

 3) My third suggestion: Find out all about Erasmus+ international mobility opportunities at Apeiron University, as well as ways to spend part of your studies abroad. There are many opportunities, and studying abroad gives you valuable experience for life, and building an international network of friends. In addition, studying part of your degree at universities abroad helps you better set future goals related to your field of study.

 4) Fourth: Be active in the classroom. Stand out, get noticed by your teachers. Challenge them, ask questions, elaborate. Trust me, professors can learn a lot from you, and your valuable feedback helps make our university better. The best part of your studies takes place in classrooms, exercises, practical classes and laboratories. Conversations with fellow students and teaching staff outside the classroom – in the hallway or workspace – also play an important role in your personal development.

 5) Fifth: The university community provides a unique environment for research and reflection on meaning itself, as well as the world around us. When higher education is discussed in society, the individual is usually far from the discussion. Therefore, I want to encourage all of you to make this period in your life meaningful. Feel free to search for your interests. Think critically and study in an interdisciplinary way. Talk and listen to each other, learning and understanding grows in the community, not only in lectures. This community is an opportunity to find yourself, to grow, learn and create your own path.

 6) And finally, fellow students, remember that you have a voice. There are many of you, and when you make your voice heard, you are powerful. I want you to be heard both at the university and in society. Thank you for your vote!

Dear freshmen, I am aware that the challenges of today's times are such that all of us, especially you young people, are under enormous pressure that floats within us and around us. We are aware of the facts that can put pressure on the average student today: for example, that study time is organized, that the means of living are lower than average and mostly consist of loans and similar.

So the pressure comes from many directions, which is why I want to emphasize the need to have a strong sense of empathy. People come to the university from different life situations, backgrounds, conditions and expectations.

All of us – professors, teaching and research staff, as well as other staff and students – are building this university community of Apeiron together. Let's build it by appreciating each other, listening and learning from each other, giving space to our own and other people's ideas, making it safe for each of its members through their own actions. When we actively create such a culture and topic in our community, it is visible in the wider society as well.

I would emphasize that learning, research and science activities are born in communities. Let's give them a little more space. Let's be empathetic towards ourselves and others. Let's be open - so that we learn more about each other, about society, about science, but also about ourselves.

With these words, I especially welcome all of you wonderful new students to the university community.

I also have a message for all respected fellow university teachers who will soon stand in front of the chair again; I wish you all an interesting and exciting new academic year. In addition to being great teachers, I invite you to think about what a role model you are to our students as researchers. Give these young people, now our students, access to your expertise and offer them inspiring discussions. You are their best chance to be inspired by research, so that they can connect their future with that research. Maybe some of these wonderful young people will start their research career with you in a few years.

Take care of them dear, fellow professors!

May the new academic year bring new impetus and momentum to the entire university family!

We will all strive together to make the Pan-European University Apeiron in Banja Luka a great place to study, teach and work.

Dear colleagues, welcome! I wish you happy studies and student life.

My door as rector will always be open to you.

I greet you warmly.

***

Prof. Dr. Sanel JAKUPOVIĆ

Rector of Pan-European University "APEIRON" Banja Luka

SPEECH OF THE RECTOR ON THE OCCASION OF THE ANNIVERSARY

PAN-EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY "APEIRON"

The 19th anniversary of our University gives us reason to be truly proud. We are aware that the world does not stand still, it moves and everything is in motion. There are many challenges and exciting opportunities ahead. Join us.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

19 years ago, the innovative higher education institution Pan-European University "Apeiron" was founded in Banja Luka. An institution with a practical and contemporary approach to education, which prepares students to face the challenges of a constantly changing world. In those years, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska were at the beginning of the post-war democratic reality and the transition of the entire social system, including the activity of higher education. In this difficult, critical period of our social community, a group of enthusiasts led by Mr. Darko Uremović (founder and president of the University's Board of Directors), asst. Dr. Siniša Aleksić (founder and director of the University) and Kornelija Gilh (founder and member of the University's Board of Directors), with the immeasurable support of an ensemble of prestigious university professors led by academician Prof. Dr. Rajko Kuzmanović (president of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of the Republic of Srpska) - in 2003. , in accordance with the Law on Higher Education - founded and launched the Faculty of Business Economics, the first member of the future Pan-European University "Apeiron". The statutory goal of the then Faculty of Business Economics was to prepare students for managing business in an emerging market economy and to educate personnel capable of taking on the challenges of socio-economic transformation. Soon, in accordance with the growing needs of the market, the Faculty of Legal Sciences and the Faculty of Information Technologies were founded, and after the registration of the University (2006), the Faculty of Sports Sciences and the Faculty of Health Sciences were added to its composition.

These members are joined by the Faculty of Philological Sciences (2009) and the Faculty of Transportation (2013), so that the University currently has 7 faculties where teaching and scientific research activities of diploma, master's degrees are carried out in "in class" and "on-line" study modes. and doctoral studies in 34 study programs. Our prestigious institution is attended annually by an average of 3.000 students and researchers from all over the country, as well as from the Western Balkan region. Today's "APEIRON GROUP" also includes the "Gemit-Apeiron" Secondary School Center, the Scientific Research Institute, the Vocational IT Academy, the Career Guidance Center and the "Alumna" Employment Mediation Agency.

The Pan-European University "Apeiron" was founded as a result of the goals of the founders. It is also a consequence of the revolutionary vision that focused on helping to implement the difficult restructuring processes of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska.

We will celebrate the 19th anniversary of "Apeiron" in the upcoming academic year 2021/2022. This is an important anniversary for our entire academic community and a good reason to be proud of the results of our work in the past year. It is also a time of summarizing and planning the future, because as the famous Goethe (JW Goethe) said, "he who does not move forward goes backwards".

Today, the Pan-European University is a growing and prestigious higher education institution that responds to contemporary socio-economic challenges. In the past period, we launched study programs in the areas of software engineering, multimedia and computer graphics, engineering and information systems security. During doctoral studies, students have the opportunity to conduct scientific research at the Faculty of Information Technologies, the Faculty of Business Economics, and the Faculty of Philological Sciences, while master's programs are conducted at all seven faculties, which boast a modern and dynamic modular-individualized program of teaching and research curriculum. .

Unfortunately, the previous academic year was also marked by the corona virus pandemic, which significantly affected the resource potential and workload of the University in order to provide conditions for the smooth development of education and scientific research. We have learned to react quickly to changing circumstances. We were constantly guided by two main goals - the necessity of continuing the educational process at the highest level and preserving the health, safety and well-being of the entire academic community and staff. The key to combating the spread of the corona virus has been the active monitoring of ever-changing global educational trends and the immediate introduction of distance learning. It was not news to us. These procedures allow us to speed up and improve processes that we already knew well. We survived this difficult year together. Moreover, we have not lost the confidence with which we look forward to the future. We successfully overcame this obstacle with the help of all our capacities and effective crisis management led by the dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Prof. Dr. Ljiljana Bijelić Stojanović. I am proud to admit that we have achieved our goals.

Unfortunately for all of us, our collective, like the entire society, suffered numerous irreversible human losses due to the consequences of the pandemic, which we remember with deep reverence and sadness and as a collective send expressions of our deepest sympathy to their dearest family members. We hope that the current year 2022 will bring an end to the crisis period from which we will emerge even stronger and more dedicated to the basic postulates of human existence on Earth - humanism, solidarity and social balance in order to preserve lasting peace, civilizational values ​​and improve social order in the world.

We are extremely proud of our result in the field of international cooperation within the framework of the ERASMUS + teacher and student mobility program, because we implemented mobility with higher education institutions in the European Union (Slovenia, Czech Republic). Our Office for International Cooperation has been strengthened by new staff who prepare international mobility and capacity building projects within the ERASMUS+ program. Important results continued to be achieved in obtaining and implementing national scientific research projects and activities within the funding program implemented by the Ministry for Scientific Technological Development, Higher Education and Information Society of the Republic of Srpska, where we were approved for research projects in sports, health sciences, economics, traffic engineering, and information technologies. Scientific journals and scientific meetings under the auspices of the University continued the tradition of receiving funds from programs supported by the competent national Ministry, so we can conclude that we have raised the level of quality of activities in the field of scientific research, which resulted in an increase in the number of international and national projects received. grantor.

We pride ourselves on having a great alumni community. Thousands of our alumni run their own businesses, work as officials of public institutions or are employed in private companies. Our alumni are present in addition to our country and the region of the Western Balkans and all over the world, from China, Russia, Western Europe, to the United States of America and Canada.

The nineteenth anniversary of our University gives us reason to be truly proud. We are aware that the world does not stand still, it moves and everything is in motion. There are many challenges and exciting opportunities ahead. Join us. We still want to closely monitor what is happening around us and to actively react and respond to the needs of business and science. We want to show all people that getting a good education is an invaluable asset in this day and age.

At the beginning of 2022, the Pan-European University "Apeiron" received the exceptional privilege and honor of taking over the chairmanship of the Rectors' Conference of the Republika Srpska (RKRS) for a term of two years on behalf of all public and private universities in the Republic of Srpska. I am proud that this honor and obligation fell to me as the rector of the Pan-European University and I will try to continue the tradition of good cooperation and systemic support for the development of higher education at the level of Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the wider region. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who, with their efforts, talent or ordinary human kindness, contribute to the development of our University every day. I would like to emphasize the word "our". This is our joint work, which is supported not only by the founders of the University, rectors and deans, but also professors, other academic staff, administrative staff, pensioners, and especially a large number of students and graduates. I am convinced that without the talent, creative work and commitment of a wide group of people, we would not be able to create and develop one of the best private universities in the Republic of Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Today I want to thank all these people most deeply. Let us also remember with gratitude all those exceptional members of the "APEIRON" community who are no longer with us, and whose work at this university not only contributed to its development, but also changed and shaped us who had the honor of learning from them and working with them. Traditionally, on the occasion of University Day, the three best students will receive scholarships in the form of free tuition for one school year from the "Prof. Dr. Risto Kozomara" Fund.

I congratulate all students, academic workers, management, founders, administrative and support staff, retirees and alumni of the proud "APEIRON" family on University Day with the desire to live in peace and good health, dedicated to developing and improving our common home, our Pan-European University "Apeiron" ".

Rector

Pan-European University "Apeiron" Banja Luka

Prof. Dr. Sanel Jakupović

In Banja Luka, on October 3, 2022

SPEECH OF PROF.DR SANEL JAKUPOVIĆ, RECTOR OF THE PAN-EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY "APEIRON" BANJA LUKA AT THE CEREMONIAL FIRST CLASS FOR FRESHMEN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 2022/2023 ACADEMIC YEAR

Dear colleagues and fellow students,

Dear Freshmen,

Welcome to the Pan-European University Apeiron with headquarters in Banja Luka and departments in Novi Grad and Bijeljina. I extend my warm greetings to the respected founders of the university, the director, assistant professor Sinisa Aleksić, and the president of the Board of Directors, Mr. Darko Uremović. I also greet my esteemed colleagues, the university deans who are on the podium, vice-deans, technical secretaries and the entire administrative and working staff of the Pan-European University Apeiron.

Dear students, on behalf of the founder and management of the university, I would like to sincerely thank you personally, as well as your parents, for the trust you have courageously and unequivocally expressed in the act of deciding to enroll in studies at our renowned institution of higher education - Pan-European University Apeiron.

Today, here - in the large amphitheater, we open the first class in the academic year 2022/2023 with a ceremonial act of traditional gathering of the new generation of students enrolled in 20 study programs of the first cycle at the 7 parent faculties of the Pan-European University Apeiron - Faculty of Business Economics, Faculty of Legal Sciences, Faculty of Information technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Faculty of Traffic and Faculty of Philological Sciences.

Hereby we would like to introduce the leaders of our faculties - hardworking and dedicated deans of the Pan-European University Apeiron:

1. Prof. Dr. Mirjana Landika, dean of the Faculty of Business Economics,
2. Prof. dr. Vladimir Đurić, Dean of the Faculty of Legal Sciences (Dean Đurić delegated the representative of the Faculty, Prof. Dr. Ljubinka Mitrović, due to his inability to do so),
3. Prof. Dr. Branko Latinović, Dean of the Faculty of Information Technologies,
4. Prof. Dr. Ljiljana Bijelić – Stojanović, dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences,
5. Prof. Dr. Velibor Srdić, Dean of the Faculty of Sports Sciences,
6. Prof. Dr. Tomislav Vujnović, Dean of the Faculty of Traffic and
7. Prof. Dr. Katarina Laketić-Držajić, dean of the Faculty of Philological Sciences (Dean Držajić delegated the representative of the faculty, Prof. Dr. Slavica Lukić, due to her inability).

We thank the deans present and want to tell you, dear fellow students, that the doors of the deans, their deputies - vice deans, as well as the technical secretaries of the faculty are open every day for all questions regarding the implementation of your study activities. In addition, the heads of those departments are responsible for the technical implementation of teaching activities in the university departments in Novi Grad and Bijeljina.

During the first cycle of the winter semester, i.e. in the first weeks of the academic year, as part of mastering the teaching units in the Academic Skills subject, you will be introduced to the entire work of the above-mentioned, but also other organizational units and professional services of the university, such as, for example, Student Services, Center for managing the library, Library and reading room, IT support service, and others.

Who are we, Apeiron Pan-European University? You certainly received key information about the Apeiron higher education institution long before today, when you considered the decision to enroll in studies. As rector, I am obliged to state some of the most important facts about Apeiron University, according to which we differ in terms of quality from other universities in the Republic of Srpska, as well as the rest of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the regional environment of the Western Balkans:

• A tradition of 20 years of existence, continuous growth and development, and quality improvement, which resulted in the institution's accreditation,
• The number of students and teachers is above the average compared to all other private higher education institutions in the Republic of Srpska - over 2.500 active students in the academic year, about 200 teachers and associates,
• Quality ranking: In the Republic of Srpska, the first among private higher education institutions,
• Active international exchange of students and teachers - outgoing and incoming within the framework of the EU program ERASMUS+ and other programs, including the programs of the Faculty of Philological Sciences with the Higher Education Institution in Russia.
• The highest quality offer of elective programs in the region: over 20% of elective courses offered by the university,
• The highest quality offer of online teaching content and learning resources: within the DL platform we have over 10.000 hours of recorded video lectures, the MS teams platform enabled teaching during the pandemic,
• Modular way of studying: Combined teaching and consultations in "in-class" and "on-line" mode,
• The unique structure of the teaching cycles (American model): 8 teaching cycles in two semesters enable the gradual mastering of the curriculum, which also enables an additional number of exam deadlines compared to the teaching model of other HEIs in the Republic of Srpska and the region.
• High quality internship offer for students: Over 50 state institutions and private companies from Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina cooperate with Apeiron and accept students for internships,
• A high degree of recognition and nostrification of the diplomas of the Pan-European University Apeiron abroad: which enables the active migration of the professional, scientific and working community of students and alumni of Apeiron,
• The lowest price of tuition in the region: Due to inflationary jumps in 2022, we did not increase the price of tuition, which is an advantage compared to all other universities in the area that increased the price of studying by an average of 20%.

Dear freshmen, today's ceremony is being held for the first time after a two-year break due to the restrictions caused by the corona virus pandemic. And in this way, we remember with longing and deep reverence all our students, members of the academic and working community of the university and all our loved ones who were victims of the pandemic scourge. To them be eternal glory and praise.

Today we are making official the beginning of a new era in the lives of each of you fellow students. And what is the meaning of the word student? According to the general definition, the word student comes from the Latin verb studere: "to strive (for something), to be interested (in something)" and represents a person who attends an institution of higher or higher education, usually a faculty or institute within a university, with the aim of obtaining a higher or superior knowledge in some field of science.

Why is studying and higher education important? Education gives us awareness of life around us, prepares us for life, helps us form opinions and gives us new perspectives. There are many benefits of education that show us exactly how important it is. Besides helping us in our own development and improvement, it helps us to be happier, more successful and more satisfied with ourselves. Also, it guarantees us some kind of respect from society, it gives us stability in fulfilling basic life needs. It helps us develop a career and fulfill our dreams, emancipates us and gives us freedom. The goal of higher education is not to learn everything that can be learned about only one subject, but to develop the ability to think critically and observe the world, to prepare young people for the future and the life that awaits them, and to teach them how to deal with the circumstances in which they find themselves.

What are the expectations of Pan-European University Apeiron from you, dear students? We expect you to be deeply aware and responsible for your future and that of your children and future generations. You will achieve this through your commitment, effort, work and study - mastering the teaching units - materials from the curriculum where you need to successfully acquire the expected competencies - knowledge and skills of the study program you have enrolled.

Will you be successful in your studies and to what extent? That answer depends first of all on you, dear colleagues and fellow freshmen, or on the aforementioned postulates that describe the meaning and goals of education that each student sets for himself as a goal and makes a decision about the intensity of his effort and dedication during his studies. In this regard, experience tells us that some of you will be less successful, others will be more successful, while we will also have exceptionally successful students. However, I would like to emphasize that it is the desire and intention of the academic and management community of Apeiron to avoid, in our opinion, the wrongly domesticated word "failure" from which the adjective of the noun "unsuccessful" student is derived. We want the term "unsuccessful student" to be replaced with the category "underachieving student". Because, according to modern explanations that come from different scientific disciplines - such as, first of all, sociology, philosophy, social psychology, pedagogy, or the general theory of systems and management - and in this context of application, it could be concluded that the "degree of success" of studying , of course, depends on the complex relationships of various factors of the internal and external environment in the study system for each individual case, that is, for each individual student.

Therefore, from all of the above, it can be concluded that students in the process of studying go through different degrees of success, which certainly have different directions and sizes, so that from our side - the professors and management of Apeiron University, each student will be treated as an individual "complex" an individual according to whom, in accordance with the Law and positive regulations, we will apply standardized and standardized methods of personalized work and learning.

Dear students, what we expect from you in order to realize your studies and mark the degree of success as satisfactory or excellent, we stated in the previous presentation. However, I would say that it is only a necessary condition for completing the complete mission of the student in the wider social community. We appreciate that it would be necessary to fulfill other conditions that could be marked as "sufficient" for this purpose. In this regard, from you, dear freshmen, we expect full responsibility in terms of behavior and actions - both in the system of the Pan-European University Apeiron, and in the wider social community - because we believe that higher education institutions are partly educational institutions where young colleagues should be guided to fulfill their mission in society.

Fellow students, from today you become more mature people by the very act of acquiring student status, and you should get used to that fact and develop awareness of your new role in society. The mission and purpose of studying is not enough on its own without your youthful energy and drive; I invite, ask and ask you to research, ask, discuss with professors and assistants, fellow students; please participate in debates and additional trainings and instructions, work on yourself and invest in yourself, all with the aim of acquiring new competencies - knowledge and skills that are very necessary in today's society. Be "quiet" but persistent rebels of the existing solutions that you see as a problem and do not hold back your desires and aspirations to change such things for the better.

The famous Mostar poet Aleksa Šantić wrote the lyrics of the famous song "Stay here" for a very different occasion. I appreciate that each of us present here, and first of all you dear young fellow freshmen, should remember and re-read the verses of this wonderful poetry by Šantić in order to gain additional strength and meaning to fulfill the life's mission. In this sense, I, as the rector of Apeiron University, invite you to fulfill together, united, courageous and determined, the vow of our generations to live successfully, quality, contentedly and happily on our land and forefathers and to work together to achieve the progress of our cities, villages , streets and our microcosms where we can influence progress. Go abroad with a goal and intention - here, for example, through our institution as part of student exchanges - but only for new ideas, technologies and experiences, and regardless of the length of your stay, return to your communities and country in order to bring new ideas and values ​​and made the life of your children and all people better and better!

Allow me to read the first verse of Šantić (Stay here!), which even today, after more than a century, perfectly reflects our thoughts and dilemmas:

"The sun of someone else's sky will not warm you like this one; Bites of bread are bitter there, Where there is no one and where there is no brother."

Dear students, have you heard the phrase "Dream your dreams"? I believe that most of you have heard this sentence "dream your dreams" at least once in your life on film, television or from friends, parents. Believe me, I testify and responsibly claim that success comes through dreaming and constantly striving to fulfill your dreams. One of the living examples is me here, and I believe most of my fellow professors here in the hall. But, the dream implies everything that was previously said in my address, from which I would single out a few key words: goals, learning, action, research, persistence, dedication and determination. Without these components, even a dream cannot become reality. Keep in mind these key determinants of any success in life, dear colleagues. Therefore, dear freshmen, make a firm decision today that you want to succeed in your journey of studying and obtaining a degree in an academic program at the Pan-European University of Apeiron. During your studies, despite all the difficulties, ups and downs, remember again and again your original goal and decision – to be strong, not to give up and win! Only then will you be ready to face reality.

Do not forget from the beginning of my address the strength and quality of our common institution, our Apeiron. Our Apeiron University stands on a strong armature built from numerous pillars on which rests the overall quality of the institution and the services it provides. Some of Apeiron's key quality pillars are contained in 7 areas (7Qp – seven quality pillars):

Qp1) Quality of curricula of study programs,

Qp2) Quality of academic staff (professors and assistants),

Qp3) Quality of organization and integrated management,

Qp4) Quality of scientific research work and internationalization,

Qp5) Quality of institution and process digitization,

Qp6) Quality of cooperation with the economy and practice, i

Qp7) Quality of cooperation with the social community and volunteer activities.

In 2023, the Pan-European University Apeiron celebrates its 20th anniversary, a significant anniversary of our renowned institution. On this occasion, I appeal to you to keep in mind that today we are carrying the joint baton of Apeiron's generations of students, professors, assistants and workers who have incorporated a part of themselves, their life and working life, into Apeiron, a higher education institution that represents a well-known brand not only in the Republic of Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also in the wider region of the Western Balkans.

Colleagues, today is a big day in your life. Today you become members of an academic community that is global. It is not only Banja Luka, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, but worldwide, with hundreds of millions of members. It is universal and the same rules apply to it all over the world. You are expected to justify your academic status in all situations.

Finally, I would like to quote a world-class, timeless genius who originates from our area, the famous and unsurpassed Nikola Tesla, who, among other things, uttered a genius thought: "Of all the forces of friction (resistance), the one that slows down human progress the most is ignorance, what the Buddha called the greatest evil in the world".

Dear colleagues, welcome! I wish you happy studies and student life.

My door as rector will always be open to you.

I greet you warmly.

***

Prof. Dr. Sanel JAKUPOVIĆ

Rector of Pan-European University "APEIRON" Banja Luka

Dear students, I invite you to approach the process of your studies with a high degree of responsibility and take advantage of the exceptional opportunities for acquiring knowledge provided by the Pan-European University "APEIRON" at one of its 7 faculties and 34 study programs in diploma, master's and doctoral studies. By choosing the Pan-European University "APEIRON" you become part of a distinguished student and academic community that numbers more than 3.000 students.