| Launch of the study about UWCiM |
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A scientific research “Student integration in Bosnia and Herzegovina: a study of the United World College in Mostar” financed by British CfBT Education Trust and conducted by professors of University of Bath (UK) was officially launched on two separate seminars held in Sarajevo on 8th and in Mostar on 9th of February. The results were presented by two researchers Dr. Mary Hayden and professor emeritus Jeff Thompson who were intensively collecting data among UWCiM and Gymnasium Mostar staff and students from early 2008 until October 2009. “Our intention was to investigate the extent to which the aims of the UWCiM are being met with respect to the promotion of greater integration between students from different communities in BiH and all around the world, as well as their links with students from the Gymnasium Mostar. Our core findings suggest that the college did affect grater integration among its students in all aspects of college life, especially within the residential accommodation. The data of greater integration with Gymnasium Mostar are not that clear but it is worth to mention that the initial findings suggest positive trend in that aspect of our study” commented the study in brief Dr. Hayden. The hope is that the outcomes of this research will make a positive contribution to informing developments in the education system of Bosnia and Herzegovina. “We decided to finance this study because we believe that these findings can help the education authorities to devise sustainable and rational education model based on relevant information, and not only in BiH but also in other countries who are facing recovery after the years of conflicts” commented John Harwood, Chairman of CfBT Board of Trustees. The launch of study provoked significant public interest in BiH and both seminars gathered many representatives from governmental and nongovernmental education sectors, high school heads, teachers and students. The official respondents of the study were Dr. Enver Kazaz from Faculty of Philosophy on Sarajevo seminar and Mr. Esad Dželilović, minister of education in Herzegovina-Neretva canton on seminar in Mostar.
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