Norwegian South Eastern Europe (SEE) Programme in Agriculture (2005- 2006: "Institutional collaboration between academic institutions in Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine in Norway and Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia & Montenegro", (UMB, UD Project no. 332 953)

Main purpose: -To support and strengthen selected institutions in SEE, i.e. Bosnia&Herzegovina,to enable them to reach the general European level and standards. -To promote network and cooperation between the SEE institutions themselves. -To promote scientific collaboration between institutions in Norway and institutions in B&H Potential activities: -Joint research on topics relevant for the development process in B&H -Curriculum development and improvement of teaching methods. -Teaching and training of students through guest lecturing, studies in Norway, establishment of M.Sc. programmes, support to Ph.D. candidates etc. -Staff updating, student and staff exchange and cooperation measures between the participating institutions. -Support to upgrading of study material; equipment for teaching, communication, laboratory work and research activities. Possible partner institutions in Bosnia & Herzegovina: Faculty of Agriculture, University of Banja Luka Faculty of Forestry, University of Banja Luka Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mostar Faculty of Agriculture, University Dzemal Bijedic. of Mostar Faculty of Agriculture, University of Sarajevo Faculty of Forestry, University of Sarajevo Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sarajevo Some of the main objectives and intensions are: To improve organising, content and quality of academic education and research in agriculture, veterinary medicine and forestry to meet with needs for qualified people in the ongoing reconstruction after the wars and to reach the general European level and standards. Support to inter-institutional cooperation and specialisation between the local universities for optimal use of limited available resources in B&H in a difficult reorganising situation will be part of the project. In the future, other countries (Albania, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro) in the SEE region might be included in the collaboration. Potential professional areas for support and cooperation could be themes within: -social and economic factors promoting and inhibiting rural development in a post-conflict setting like B&H -animal and aquacultural sciences, including animal health -food hygiene and food safety -agricultural economics and rural development -forestry sciences -biodiversity and environmental management -new methods and systems for studies and application in agriculture and forestry like GIS Approach: o The programme will have to concentrate on a few topics, but can possibly give some general support to a broader range of topics. o The possible partner institutions in B&H have been asked to describe their needs for support and to come up with proposals on themes and activities they want to include in a possible programme. o From Norwegian side the programme concept, proposals from possible partners in B&H and the interest, expertise and capacity at our own institutions have to be discussed and agreed on as a basis for the detailed planning process o In a pilot project period (one year?) it should be possible to choose partner institutions, themes and detailed plans of activities for the future main programme period.