24.02.2016.
The Day of the University of Defence
The ceremony to mark the fifth anniversary of the founding of the University of Defence in Belgrade took place today in the House of Guards in Topcider.Among those present there were secretaries of state in the Ministry of Defence Zoran Djordjevic and Nenad Neric, acting assistant ministers of defence, Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces Lieutenant General Jovica Draganic, members of the collegiums of the Minister of Defence and Chief of General Staff, foreign military representatives, vice-rectors and professors of the University of Defence, representatives of the accredited universities of the Republic of Serbia, numerous friends and guests.
State Secretary Nenad Neric said that today we celebrate the fifth official confirmation of the success of the University of Defence.
- Its establishment has made a step forward in the further development of the profession, science and education in the defence system in accordance with the highest international standards. This institution of higher education is in many ways specific just as the military profession is. This is the place where the history, traditions and values created for centuries are respected, but it is also the place where the global trends are followed, Neric pointed out.He added that the great trust in the military higher education institution obliges the University of Defence to be better, to be a guardian of tradition and leader in the future.
According to the Rector of the University of Defence Major General Prof. Mladen Vuruna, although it is the youngest state university of the Republic of Serbia, it inherited achievements realised over decades of successful development of higher education in our army.
- In these several decades, precisely 166 years, military education has gone from a school with ten teachers to the institution in which 236 persons with teacher professions conduct scientific research and educates people for defending their country. The results of military education over the past century and a half were visible in all segments of the society, especially during the crucial historical moments that shaped our cultural, national and state entity. Among the students of the University of Defence there were prime ministers, ministers, MPs, military leaders, presidents of the Serbian Academy of Sciences, artists, national heroes and outstanding athletes, General Vuruna said.
Proud of such history, the Rector added, we can safely say that the university form of organization offers even the added value.
- This is the fundamental value that provides us independence, freedom and responsibility to create. The military profession is a creative activity, General Vuruna said adding that until the next Day of the University of Defence, the most important tasks are improving the organization, efficient operation of the budgetary fund for the development of military education and continuous engagement on improving the quality of educational and scientific research.General Vuruna presented the plaques of the University of Defence to the Kragujevac University and the Serbian Army. Also, the awards were conferred to the best cadets, students and retired teachers of the University of Defence.
