1. In small, war devastated and poor transition country, the conditions of education in university institutions are the following: a) almost ideal; b) bad, but educated staff is necessary for development and prosperity of country and society; c) as usually, I have no opinion?

2. In those conditions, for only ten years, it exists one of such institutions, having a good perspective that very soon grow up in contemporary educational unit according to world’s standards. In terms of this university institution, you will a) support in overcoming of objective problems came out of above mentioned reasons; b) urgently, to apply radical measures and disable education of university staff, which always deficient on the market; c) as usually, I have no opinion.

And, now you should read this interview to be sure of accuracy of your answers. You should never choose the answers are under "c)".    

• Which activities have been carried out during your ten-month’s mandatory and what is the outline of plan for the following period?

M. Stankovic, Prof. Ph. D: Tenth anniversary of the Faculty work was celebrated in working and formal manner. On date December 18th 2006, it was held the formal meeting with many associate activities. It was published the Monograph, which reviewed the development of our Faculty during last ten years, from spatial designs, over curriculum, engaged staff, postgraduate studies and overall improvement. This Monograph presented the life and work at Faculty, cooperation with economy, underlined the acknowledgments and awards of teachers and students, as well as overall situation at Faculty. Therefore, it was published the first collection on the subject: retrospectives of scientific thought development at the Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering, with clear visions per specific areas. Second, more formal part of this ceremony was organized in the premises of `Banski Dvor`, where there were handed the diplomas and awarded the best students. All invited representative of all the Faculties of Architecture and Civil Engineering from the region participated at this event. Wide-scale public found its own place within this manifestation. In reconstructed facility within the complex of former barracks `Vrbas`, it was set up the exhibition of student’s works. Besides the permanent exhibits, it was as well organized one more exhibition and lectures of Ph. D. Ljiljana Blagojević on the subject: Actual problems of contemporary architecture with review on the Republic of Srpska, which was well attended even by those who were not involved in civil engineering. Thus, all manifestations of formal and working character were in the goal of the successful celebration of this important anniversary.
At the moment when I undertook the Dean’s duties on May 26th 2006 year, I found very poor staff, technical and spatial structure. Faculty didn’t have not even one full-time employed professor, and not even research assistants. Currently, this structure was improved, and seven professors full-time employed at Faculty and around ten professors from the University of Banjaluka. In accordance with the new Law, our Faculty was integrated into University, so mentioned professors from the University of Banjaluka might be engaged at our Faculty. Currently, we have been conducted the negotiations with the rector and Ministry to provide legal prerequisite for granting assistant professor to teaching staff with significant accomplishments, but without Ph.D. title, which is in practice in Belgrade.
Last year, we moved into new building that reconstructed within former barracks `Vrbas` in Second student’s campus, with surface of 1200m2. There were given two more facilities to our Faculty – former warehouse and tank workshop that should be reconstructed in accordance with new development plan. It is our goal to complete these two facilities by the end of new school year (new building of the Faculty and reconstructed facility of future Institute of civil engineering).

In addition to, we made new curriculums and schedules. It was enrolled a new generation of the students of Civil Engineering Department according to the rules of Bologna declaration, and already three generations of Architectural Department educated according to `Bologna`. Right now, it was completed a new curriculum and schedule for fourth and fifth year intended to those generations. Improvement of teaching process is a significant one for new classification into study areas. Therefore, we prepared new curriculum and teaching programs. It enrolled the first generation of students at Civil engineering department, according to the rules of Bologna declaration, and already third generation of Architectural department students educated by Bologna rules.  It has just completed the new curriculum and program intended for fourth and fifth school year. Improvement of teaching process is significant one for new classification into study areas managed by responsible teacher.  With coordination of teaching process within each semester, it was raised the quality of teaching. Instead of many partial subjects, students today have study area with more coordinated teaching units, without repeating and empty points. Teaching of study programs is interactive one, even in the fields of extremely theoretical character. We introduced the obligatory practice, since it is our goal to connect theory with practice at our faculty. During introduction of practice, it is expected hearty support of builders (people engaged in economy), together with Ministry, which already resulted in successful celebration of tenth anniversary of the faculty and reconstruction of new premises of the faculty.
Generally, education of future engineers according to the Bologna model is extremely complicated process, requiring significant financial funds. We decided for teaching model that prescribes the practical work of the students starting from third school year. Certainly, it included a constant cooperation with the Institute for civil engineering of RS, which will be established on basis of the principle public/private ownership. Here, the students will be introduced with all elements of practice and actively participated in their solution.
Elective subjects and graduate tasks were not precisely set up. Students choose the subjects and themes within their field of interest, and programs are in accordance with the proposals offered by teachers every school year, and with actual trends. We gave the specialized courses that will be written in the annex of diploma, at Architectural department within the area of architectural designing, engineering and town planning, and at Civil engineering department for traffic, hydro engineering and structural courses. It is our opinion that the engineers should be directed through practice, but initial courses that wrote down in `annex to diploma` that students more intensively passed in final years, gave them an opportunity to make a faster progress in those fields. All this educational process is in direct connection with practice, so we proudly emphasize that this faculty is the respectable institution at University, since all engineers of architecture and civil engineering easily find the job, and it is familiar that our students are very successful engineers in practice.

• What changes have occurred after adoption of Bologna declaration at Architectural- Civil engineering Faculty, and do you, as an inhabitant, evaluate `Bologna` as positive process?  

M. Stankovic, Prof. Ph. D: We live in Europe, and political determination of our country directed towards Europe, i.e. integration to EU. Therefore, we cannot make up ` warm water`. Europe has its own standards – eurocodes, and if we want to become EU member, we must follow up those trends. Bologna declaration is the process of standard unification at all faculties and creation of transparency i.e. exchange of students. Basic principles are clear – education of engineers skilled for practical work in accordance with the requirements. There is no any more a classical educational system. Groups of students significantly reduced, instead of ex-department, student and professor are partners that exchange experiences, discuss and polemize among themselves. We use d to have an educational system that required gaining of knowledge, in aim of passing an exams, and with Bologna declaration, principle of gaining the knowledge is in aim of its successful application in practice. Students and teachers participate in that process. I think that `Bologna` is a great progress for our faculty and techniques. However, that extremely expensive process requires a considerable funds and conditions to become sustainable one. It is impossible, according to new principles to work with group composed of hundreds of students. Those norms must be attainable. Part of the story related to the future Institute of civil engineering of RS, in which the projects of strategically interest certainly must be implemented within the faculty, which will help to authorities in protection of public interest and rising of the quality. Therefore, in creation of strategies it is necessary to provide support in preparation of technical part, in terms of the standardization, control of quality, supervision, revision and other activities strategically important for the state. We gather and educate the staff skilled for these activities. Monitoring of actual situation is very important, and in that direction it included worked out programs in curriculum. Our goal is to educate the profiles according to the needs of economy and market, and on the other side, engineers of architecture, civil engineering and geodesy must educate constantly. All prepared for realization of PhD studies. Plan and program adopted at Council of the Faculty, and we are waiting to end up the integration process of University, ad there is no doubt that this   PhD study will be opened this year. PhD study at our faculty will be carried out in cooperation with the Faculty of Architecture from Belgrade.

• What would be your comment about the attitude present in public, about abolition of AGG?

M. Stankovic, Prof. Ph. D:

Concerning that attitude, I think it is malicious. There is an obvious progress created in relatively short period of the work of faculty. Some media bring up their own conclusions independently on behalf of the University without investigation of real facts, based on the principle hearsay. Soon, it will be set up the press conference ( Minister, Rector and Dean) with complete report about staff, work conditions, improved fund of professional literature, about cooperation with other institutions, about current projects and all results achieved up to now – our assistants and students achieved a great success at congresses, competitions in Banjaluka and all over Europe. Generally, results were more than obvious. Staff is very young and perspective. It only few years, we are going to have 80% of full-time employees, since we already have over 50% in terms of final phase of the integration of our faculty into University, an according to the provision of Law, it was already created skilled staff structure. As it is obvious shortage of staff within geodesy department , new Department (for geodesy) is justifiable, since, finally, there is neither planning nor construction without geodesy, i.e. applied geodesy. I would like to remark that teaching process at future third Department from 60% to 80% will overlap with syllabus of Department for civil engineering.
I must emphasize that, besides all problems at faculty, there is obvious devotion of teachers and students to achieve better success in such difficult situation at faculty. I am an optimist, otherwise I wouldn’t have enough strength to deal with these difficulties.   We were the first ones that offered to Minister Kasipovic and to Rector the idea of public/private partnership and we think that all our theoretical achievements must be investigated even in practice. Therefore, we don’t want to engage the staff skilled for engagement in economy, but as well to preserve the autonomy of university, i.e.  training of that staff. Fortunately, big investments will inflow in RS and we are ready to work, support, improve and earn. If we inactively wait for improvement of budget situation, this faculty will start to go backward. I think that our proposal can be `a good recipe` even for other faculties i.e. organizational units of University in Banjaluka.

• Why do you estimate the first awarded work at Competition for reconstruction and remodeling of Kastel fortress as the best one, and which are the values of this work?

M. Stankovic, Prof. Ph. D: Administrative service of Town has made `a good movement` with announcement of Competition for revitalization and remodeling of Kastel fortress, since Kastel has being for long time period isolated from the town and left to itself. Many times I already said that Banjaluka town starts with Kastel, which is historical center, and ends up with the park Mladen Stojanovic. I think that it is a right time that Kastel should be integrated as accent in the area of Banjaluka center. Recent interventions and urban solutions neglected and avoided in significant measure. I think that intervention must go to that measure that all elements of the fortress must be properly protected, but it should be taken into account the sustainability. It often happens that objects are protected with legal provisions, and that object, as protected one, eventually be destroyed. Fortress Kastel looks great, it is only needed to bring back the life in its old walls. I think that union of old and new one with appropriate materials is completely justifiable. Construction must be involved up to reasonable measure, with possibility that all synergy effects used.  Jury decided to buy off all works in order to use all good ideas, which is real purpose of the competition. Within the book of impressions, we couldn’t find not even one negative attitude, and activities after Competition were followed by public, and ideas of the author were recognized as deep, clear and progressive. It ceased a harder part of the work, but there are clear guidelines for good realization by side of Competition commission.

• Are you theoretician, practician or politician?

M. Stankovic, Prof. Ph. D: I am not engaged in politics. I think that autonomy of university professor must be preserved. Determination for profession and independent attitude is all that cherish the university. There are few options – to earn money quickly and to live easygoing or to live humbly and to educate people. I obviously the second option.

I can’t say if am I theoretician or practician. I used to be practician as licensed designer, but in years I as well trained for theoretical sphere of profession. But, every theoretical knowledge that doesn’t follow up practical realization in aim of improvement, becomes questionable. There are a lot of skilled engineers, but it misses European and manager’s way to `cash it` through concrete requirement. And that is my goal to help Government and its institutions with education of people for project preparation to welcome future investments from EU funds ready.

• You are a teacher at Department for architecture for many significant courses (Residential buildings, Development and sociology of settlements, Art history.. .). Which main ideas you are trying to weave in `mental maps` of future architects?

M. Stankovic, Prof. Ph. D: I try to encourage the philosophy of engineers and that is – during designing of every object the engineer put himself in given situation and if he is not pleased with he solution then he has no right to impose the same solution to others. Only that is measure and price of success. Look around yourself, there are lot of `unhealthy` structures, `unhealthy` settlements that produce `sick` people. We must stand for healthy man, for healthy settlements. And, an architecture is one of the most relevant actors.

• You obviously cooperate with the Institute for Urbanism of RS, j.s.c. Banjaluka. Are toy pleased with cooperation results?

M. Stankovic, Prof. Ph. D: Faculty doesn’t only cooperate with IURS. We are trying to create the partnership with all institutions within the civil engineering no matter on ownership status. We mustn’t be competition. We are involved in serious business implying visions, politics, strategies, that is improvement of total situation, and especially because we educate that staff for those institutions. Thanks to policy based on cooperation, certainly it will be created good results and educated qualitative engineers ready for practical work.