About us

PRESIDENT OF THE RECTORS' FORUM OF SOUTHEAST EUROPE AND WESTERN BALKANS

Photo: University of Rijeka

PROF. DR. SNJEŽANA PRIJIĆ-SAMARŽIJA

• Rector of the University of Rijeka (since 2017)
• President of  the Rectors' Forum of Southeast Europe and Western Balkans
• President of YERUN
• Steering Comittee for Education, Council of Europe 

Study

• Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy at the University of Belgrade
• Master’s Degree in Philosophy at the University of Ljubljana
• Ph.D. in Philosophy at the University of Zagreb
• Postdoctoral research at the Central European University (Prague, Czech Republic)

Research and recognition

• Research interest: Social Philosophy, Political Epistemology, Applied Ethics
• City of Rijeka Award for the development of higher education
• Certificate of Appreciation by the Inter-University Center Dubrovnik for the support and contribution to the development of international academic programs
• “Krunoslav Sukić” Award, awarded by the Center for Peace, Nonviolence and Human Rights in Osijek

International engagement

• Initiator of the regional cooperation among universities in the Western Balkans 
• Active participation in the Berlin Process
• YUFE Strategy Board
• Steering Committee for Strategic Plan at the European University Association (EUA)
• President of Alps Adriatic Conference (2018 – 2019)

PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS

2022 - 2023: Prof. Dr. Vladan Đokić, University of Belgrade

2020 - 2021: Prof. Dr. Ivanka Popović, University of Belgrade

2019 - 2020: Prof. Dr. Igor Papič, University of Ljubljana

RULES OF ORGANIZATION

of the Rectors’ Forum of Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans

Article 1
General Terms and Common Objectives

The universities of Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans which have signed the Academic Inter-Institutional Agreement on Cooperation or have subsequently become full or associated members, hereby confirm that they have established the Rectors’ Forum of Southeast Europe and Western Balkans (hereinafter: Rectors’ Forum) through the Agreement and intend by this instrument to further lay down its organization and certain rules of procedure.

The universities acknowledge that they will work in unison to achieve common objectives and interests, and reaffirm their common intention to contribute, through the activities of the Rectors’ Forum, to the development of academic and wider social communities.

Article 2
Composition of the Rectors’ Forum

The composition of the Rectors’ Forum may include other universities accredited by legally organized and empowered accreditation agencies. Other universities may join the Rectors’ Forum by presenting a statement that they accept the Agreement and these Rules and expressing their intent to adhere to the system of values upon which the Rectors’ Forum has been established. 

The decision on accepting new members is made by the Rectors’ Forum by a two-thirds majority of the total number of full members.

Article 3
Status of Rectors’ Forum members

Universities can choose from two statuses: full member or associate member.

Accreditation on the national level is required for membership.

Full members participate in all Rectors’ Forum activities, including decision-making, and pay the full membership fee.

Associate members are informed about the activities of the Rectors’ Forum and decisions of its managing bodies and take part in its activities based on an invitation. They pay a lower membership fee.

All members must accept the Academic Inter-Institutional Agreement on Cooperation, Rules of Organization of the Rectors’ Forum of Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans and the system of values upon which the Rectors’ Forum of Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans has been established.

Article 4
Legal Standing of the Rectors’ Forum

By forming the Rectors’ Forum the universities are not establishing a legal entity, and are in agreement to act within the framework of the informal, functional association in the area of higher education, teaching, research and transfer of knowledge.

The founders do consent to the Rectors’ Forum achieving full legal personality if required and when the appropriate conditions are fulfilled, whereupon the decision is to be made by the Rectors’ Forum Assembly through a majority vote.

Article 5
Bodies of the Rectors’ Forum

The bodies of the Rectors’ Forum are:

• The Assembly,
• The Secretariat,
• The President,
• and
• The Working Groups.

Article 6
Assembly

The Assembly is the highest body of the Rectors’ Forum.

The Assembly comprises the rectors of all full members’ universities that are part of the Rectors’ Forum.

The Assembly has the following responsibilities:

• considers issues important for the operation and development of universities,
• proposes to universities to undertake appropriate activities in the area of teaching, higher education, research and transfer of knowledge,
• adopts the joint activities programme for universities within the stated areas,
• encourages joint action on teaching, research and development projects,
• encourages the rational use of available resources in line with the principle of open access,
• encourages the joint strengthening of capacities in the area of teaching, higher education and transfer of knowledge,
• encourages the introduction and implementation of joint study programmes at all levels of study,
• recommends activities and measures that contribute to advancing internal and external mobility of teaching staff, associates, researchers and employees in administration, and the like,
• elects six members of the Secretariat,
• confirms the appointment of the Secretary General,
• confirms Working groups,
• dismisses six members of the Secretariat at their personal request or if they fail to adhere to the system of values upon which the Rectors’ Forum has been established,
• requests dismissal of the Secretary General,
• elects the President by a two-thirds majority of the total number of members,
• dismisses the President at their personal request or if they fail to adhere to the system of values upon which the Rectors Forum has been established,
• considers and adopts work programmes,
• considers and adopts the financial plan,
• considers and adopts the work report and financial report of the Rectors’ Forum,
• makes decisions as to membership fees,
• adopts rules of organization and other acts important for the internal organization and operation of the Rectors’ Forum.

The Assembly makes its decisions at sessions, which are chaired by the President. The rector of the university at which the session is held is co-chair of the session.

If not stated otherwise in these Rules, the Assembly adopts its decision by majority vote of its members present.

Assembly sessions are held at least once a year, usually in person. Exceptionally, the Assembly may meet by correspondence. Decisions taken at a correspondence meeting shall be adopted in the same way as decisions taken at in-person meetings.

Article 7
Secretariat

The Secretariat is a managerial body of the Rectors’ Forum.

The Assembly elects six members of the Secretariat from among the representatives of full members’ universities, for a period of four academic years. Among them there are three who chair the working groups.

The Secretariat has the following responsibilities:

• making proposals to the Assembly regarding the annual work programme of the Rectors’ Forum,
• making proposals to the Assembly regarding activities and measures which contribute to achieving common goals and interests,
• making proposals to the Assembly regarding the financial plan of the Rectors’ Forum,
• submitting to the Assembly the work report and financial report of the Rectors’ Forum,
• overseeing the implementation of the decisions and conclusions of the Assembly,
• overseeing and initiating the activities of the working groups.

The Secretary General chairs the meetings and organizes the work of the Secretariat.

Article 8
President

The President is a representative position of the Rectors’ Forum.

The Secretariat issues a call for the nomination of a new President by the full members of the Rectors' Forum three months before the end of the term of office.

The Assembly elects the President from among the rectors of all full members’ universities for a period of two academic years, without the possibility of being elected successively.

The President is responsible for:

• convening and chairing the Assembly,
• coordinating the work with the Secretary General,
• representing the Rectors’ Forum in public,
• issuing statements and notices on behalf of the Rectors’ Forum in line with the conclusions of the Assembly.

Article 9
Vice-President

The Secretary General acts as the Vice-President.

In addition to the duties set forth in Article 7, the Vice-President assumes responsibilities stated in the previous article in the event that the President is prevented from fulfilling duties, or as empowered by the President.

Article 10
Rectors’ Forum Office

The office of the Rectors’ Forum is situated at the University of Ljubljana, Kongresni trg 12, Slovenia. The Secretary General is appointed by the University of Ljubljana.

Article 11
Working Groups

In-depth consideration and elaboration of the issues dealt with by the Rectors’ Forum are assigned to its working groups. The working groups help in the implementation of decisions taken by the Rectors’ Forum Assembly and the Secretariat, and initiate and prepare complex materials for the Rectors’ Forum Assembly in cooperation with the Secretariat.

The Rectors’ Forum has three permanent working groups:

• Working group on education and sciences policies advancements in SEE,
• Working group on research and innovation advancements in SEE, and
• Working group on advancements of higher education programmes in SEE.

Rectors’ Forum members and the Secretariat may endorse written proposals for the establishment of other working groups. A new working group is established by the Assembly.

The working groups are composed of experts from the members’ universities. Each university may not have more than one member in a working group. The number of members in each working group may vary depending on the topics considered by the working group.

Each working group has its chair and is situated at the university where its chair is based. The chair and the hosting university are appointed by the Assembly for a period of four years. The chair must designate a deputy in case of absence.

Article 12
Financing of the Rectors’ Forum

Operations of the Rectors’ Forum are financed from:

• annual contributions (membership fees) of the universities, which are determined by the Assembly, specifically for full and for associate members,
• grants from the national budgets and budgets of the local communities,
• donations from international organizations, associations and other legal entities,
• from other sources, in accordance with applicable laws.

The funds intended for the operation of the Rectors’ Forum shall be held in a special account opened by the university where the Secretariat is based, as determined by the Assembly.

Membership fees are determined by the Rectors’ Forum Assembly and must be paid by the end of March for the current year.

Article 13
Cessation of membership and cessation of the Rectors’ Forum

Each member of the Rectors’ Forum may at any time and without providing any particular grounds unilaterally withdraw from the Rectors’ Forum.

A university may be excluded as a member of the Rectors’ Forum if it fails to adhere to the system of values upon which the Rectors’ Forum has been founded and if it does not pay the membership fee for two consecutive years. The decision on exclusion is made by the Assembly by majority vote of the total number of members.

The Rectors’ Forum may cease operating if the Assembly by a majority vote of the total number of members passes a decision on permanent cessation of operation.

The Rectors’ Forum may temporarily cease operation if particular circumstances impose such conditions. The decision on temporary cessation of operation shall be made by the Assembly by majority vote.

Article 14
Resolving disputes

All arrangements relating to the work of the Rectors’ Forum shall be resolved amicably, in line with the utmost mutual respect and academic tradition

Article 15
Entry into force

These Rules enter into force when, after adoption by a two-thirds majority of members of the Rectors’ Forum, they are signed by the President.

Rijeka, 5 September 2023

Prof. Vladan Đokić,
President of the Rectors’ Forum of Southeast Europe and Western Balkans
Rector of the University of Belgrade