University of Kragujevac celebrates its golden jubilee

The ceremonial academy marking the 50th anniversary of the University of Kragujevac took place at the Princely-Serbian Theatre in the presence of the representatives of the academic community, state institutions, the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, local government, as well as professors, students, and friends of the University.

The ceremony began with The national anthem of The Republic of Serbia (Bože pravde), and the Academic Anthem Gaudeamus Igitur, sung by the choir of the Faculty of Philology and Arts, University of Kragujevac, under the baton of Professor Uroš Stepanović.

In his welcoming speech, Rector Vladimir Ranković emphasized that half a century of existence represents an era during which the University of Kragujevac has grown into one of the key educational and scientific research centers, not only in Serbia but the wider region as well. He noted its strong international reputation, researchers featured on global citation-ranking lists, and significant achievements in innovation, international projects, and cooperation.

On behalf of the Ministry of Education, Prof. Dr. Janko Samardžić, Assistant Minister for International Cooperation and European Integration, addressed the audience. He emphasized that the University of Kragujevac successfully combines tradition and innovation, continuously works on the modernization of teaching and the improvement of the quality of higher education. Samardžić stated that the institution’s greatest value lies in its professors and students, and that the Ministry of Education will continue to strongly support the development of young researchers, the investment in infrastructure, and the creation of the best possible conditions for high-quality education for young people in Serbia.

On behalf of the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation, the attendees were addressed by the Minister, Academician Bela Balint. The Minister highlighted the decades-long contribution of the University of Kragujevac to Serbia’s scientific research system, emphasizing that some of its professors are among the most-cited scientists on the Stanford list, which is a testament to the quality of their scientific work.

The President of the City Assembly, Mr. Ivica Momčilović, pointed out that the University of Kragujevac is a cornerstone of the city’s and region’s development and a key partner in positioning Kragujevac as the center of digital technologies and innovation. Mr. Momčilović stressed the importance of joint projects involving local government, the state, and the academic community.

On behalf of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Academician Miloš Đuran, Head of the Centre for Scientific Research Work of the SASA and the University of Kragujevac, extended his congratulations. He underlined the University of Kragujevac’s significant role in the development of education and science in Serbia, as well as the long-standing cooperation between the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts and the University of Kragujevac. He emphasized that over the past half-century, the University has grown into one of the country’s most important educational and scientific institutions, recognized both by the national and international academic community. Academician Đuran stated that the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts will continue to support the development of young scientists and strengthen its cooperation with the University of Kragujevac in the future.

As part of the program, a film about the University of Kragujevac, symbolically titled “Light” (Svetlost), directed by Marko Đorđević, was premiered.

During the ceremonial academy, an honorary doctorate was awarded to Professor Dan Shechtman, the recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, in recognition of his exceptional contribution to the advancement of modern science and his groundbreaking discovery of quasicrystals.

“Science is a universal language that connects researchers around the world. Honors such as this one are especially meaningful because they come from communities that genuinely invest in knowledge and young people”, Professor Shechtman emphasized in his speech, encouraging new generations to push the boundaries of knowledge.

Golden Plaques for outstanding contribution to the reputation and development of the University of Kragujevac were awarded to the University’s former rectors, who, during their tenure, were the bearers of its institutional identity and key architects of its development. The University of Kragujevac also expressed special gratitude to Academician Ivan Gutman, the highest-ranked Serbian scientist, for his exceptional contribution to the University’s growth and reputation. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the founding of the University of Kragujevac, the University’s Golden Plaque was posthumously awarded to Mr. Borivoje Petrović, who served as the Mayor of Kragujevac at the time of the University’s establishment. On behalf of the students, the Golden Plaque was received by Mihajlo Kočović, the President of the Student Parliament of the University of Kragujevac.

The ceremonial academy concluded with the performance of “Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20” by Pablo de Sarasate, performed by the violinist Uroš Adamović, who was accompanied by the pianist Nevena Gligorić.