Read full story - United Nations in Serbia

Multiethnic Faculty of Economics in Bujanovac ‐ Hope for the local youth and brightereconomic futureBUJANOVAC March 2012 ‐ 96 students of the Subotica Faculty of Economics, Bujanovac Campus now have fullyfunctional computer laboratory on which to improve their IT skills and undertake research for their studies, thanksto a USD 16,000 investment from UN‐PBILD through Serbia’s Co‐Ordination Body for Bujanovac, Presevo andMedvedja.Addressing gathered students at the inauguration wereDanijela Nenadic, Director of the Republic of Serbia’s Co‐Ordination Body for Bujanovac, Presevo and Medvedja, Deanof the Subotica Faculty of Economics, Prof. Nenad Vunjak,President of the Albanian National Minority Council, GalipBeqiri and PBILD Programme Manager, Nicholas Hercules.The PC Lab is equipped with 16 computers, printers andStudent addressing at the opening of PC Lab ‐ Bujanovacassociated equipment, as well as desktops and chairs.“Boosting minority rights and educational achievement, theFaculty will provide hope for the local youth that an economicfuture may be possible within the locale”, said NicholasHercules PBILD Programme Manager. “I encourage you to start planning your careers as entrepreneurs to createwealth and jobs in order that Bujanovac takes advantage of its fine strategic location to become a businessincubator like many other university towns across the globe,” he stated.Professor Vunjak, Dean of the Subotica Facultyof Economics, University of Novi Sad expressedhis pleasure that the United Nations continuedto support human and minority rights. “Thisproject shows that good co‐operation andpartnerships are very important in this postconflictionpart of Serbia thus improving theworking conditions for students.”“Equipping the computer lab was one of the preconditionsfor the Faculty in Bujanovac to receiveits full accreditation, but the PC Lab is alsoGroup photo with students, Dean Vunjakl, Mr. Beqiri and PBILDrepresentativesnecessary in order for students to study the compulsory subject informatics,” added Danijela Nenadic.Galip Beciri, stated that the United Nations are well known in the region and respond to people’s real needs. Hesaid that he is delighted to have the opportunity to open the computer lab at the Faculty and also expressed his

hope that work would continue to further improve conditions for students of both Serbian and Albanian ethnicitiesat the university.The Faculty in Bujanovac opened on 28 October 2011 with 96 students all financed from the State budget. Teachingis carried out in Serbian and Albanian languages.About PBILDThe Peace‐building and Inclusive Local Development (PBILD) programme is a 3‐year $9 million United Nationsinitiative, financed by Norway, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland, to build capacity in south Serbia for inclusive,peaceful and sustainable development. The four focus areas of PBILD’s work are: increased community cohesionand human capital; improved and more equitable access to public services; increased economic development; andincreased capacity for migration management.In co‐operation with the Government of Serbia and all 13 municipalities of Jablanicki and Pcinjski districts, a UNteam based in Bujanovac, composed of staff from six United Nations agencies – ILO, IOM, UNDP, UN‐Habitat,UNHCR, UNICEF ‐‐ work together as ‘One UN’, to deliver PBILD from 2009 until 2012.2