The new academic year at the Faculty of Economics, University of Tuzla, has opened its doors to world education thanks to the prestigious TedQual certificate, awarded by the United Nations World Tourism Organization for excellent tourism study programs.
On this occasion, a ceremony was held on September 29th at the University of Tuzla, attended by city officials, tourism industry representatives, professors, students, and high school pupils to mark this significant milestone in higher tourism education. This is a result of the two-year joint effort between the Faculty of Economics and USAID’s Developing Sustainable Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Turizam), aligning the “Tourism Management” program with standards synonymous with excellence in tourism education and research. The TedQual certificate will empower young people in Tuzla and its surroundings to become leaders of positive changes in the tourism sector and introduce a new vision of development in line with global trends after completing their “Tourism Management” studies.
Faris Gavranović, a second-year student of the program, spoke about the significance of this certificate, previously unavailable to students, expressing that it will elevate their knowledge in tourism.
“I can certainly say that it will help us a lot moving forward, and somehow elevate the knowledge we need to have about tourism. The TedQual certificate is a certificate that can best and most beautifully illustrate what tourism actually is, how one should behave in tourism, and how to best and most beautifully present tourism to all those who actually want to know about tourism, in any country, in any city.”
Why TedQual Certificate is important for students in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
According to USAID’s human capital needs assessment in the tourism sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina, between 2021 and 2027, there could be 18,500 new jobs created in the tourism industry, while the deficit of qualified staff could reach 8,100 workers. The TedQual certification encourages talented and dedicated individuals to meet the demands of the global tourism industry and contribute to future tourism management.
The benefits of this certificate are numerous, and speaking about how important the TedQual certificate is for the academic community of Bosnia and Herzegovina, from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Tuzla, was the Rector of the University of Tuzla, professor Nermina Hadžigrahić, PhD: “The Faculty of Economics at the University of Tuzla is the second institution in Bosnia and Herzegovina that has received this certificate, and this is a significant step forward and a path that other faculties at our University should also follow. In this way, we become internationally recognized, because our goal is internationalization. By obtaining a certificate like this, we have made a great stride forward.”
The Government of the United States, through USAID Turizam project, has provided key support to the Faculty of Economics in Tuzla with the aim of strengthening human capital in tourism and offering a long-term alternative to the emigration of young people from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Today, we are thrilled to celebrate the University of Tuzla’s Faculty of Economics achievement in securing the esteemed TedQual certificate from the United Nations World Tourism Organization. This prestigious designation means students will be learning in accordance with the best international standards and shaping the future of tourism, not just in Tuzla or Bosnia and Herzegovina, but on a global scale. The U.S. government, through USAID, proudly supported this initiative because with this education, students will be more competitive in the workforce, have the potential to earn higher wages, qualify for more prestigious jobs, and will be leaders in positioning Bosnia and Herzegovina as a vibrant and attractive global tourism destination. As the University of Tuzla sets this gold standard, we are optimistic that more institutions will be inspired to follow this path of excellence, and USAID is ready to support them in this pursuit. By doing so, we are not just uplifting academic standards in tourism education, but also ensuring that future generations are equipped to propel BiH tourism sector to new heights and successes.”
Karl Wurster, the Director of the Office for Economic Development USAID/BiH, at the ceremonial awarding of the TedQual certificate to the Faculty of Economics at the University of Tuzla.
We often overlook the need for a greater number of competent managers and experts in tourism who can assist individual businesses, investors, and the tourism industry in Bosnia and Herzegovina to reach their full potential.
Irfan Halilagić, the Prime Minister of Tuzla Canton, spoke precisely about the importance of strategic development of tourism in the region: “Recently, we have witnessed beautiful and quality news from the University of Tuzla, which pleases me greatly. You know that we have started developing the Tourism Development Strategy for the Tuzla Canton for a long-term period because we believe we need to approach the development of these areas more systematically. Now, we are laying the foundations and partnering with the University and the School of Economics to plan the long-term development of tourism in the Tuzla Canton area. We certainly have a lot to offer.”
The government of Tuzla Canton has supported the Faculty of Economics in their efforts to ensure tourism education aligned with global standards. At the ceremonial event, Irfan Halilagić, the Prime Minister of Tuzla Canton, addressed audience.
With this significant success, Tuzla and its surroundings elevate the credibility of their academic community and empower future generations of students with a new vision for the development of tourism in their local communities and beyond.
The city of Tuzla will surely have numerous advantages in creating a rich tourist offer, as concluded by Mayor Dr. Zijad Lugavić:“Students will receive the recognitions needed to be competitive in the market, and that is knowledge that will contribute to business entities having an educated workforce, experts in the field of tourism who will enhance their tourist product, tourism in the city of Tuzla area, and the way of thinking, working, and innovating everything related to tourist activity.”
A group photo of participants and students in the premises of the Rectorate of the University of Tuzla.
Being future-oriented implies continuously incorporating new trends and ideas into the program, so all students will have the opportunity to become part of the large UNWTO TedQual network, which includes access to the library and participation in UNWTO Academy projects. The TedQual certificate confirms that the level of education in tourism is being raised to a higher level. By ensuring the quality of the workforce, the content of the tourist offer in Tuzla and Tuzla Canton will be further enriched, along with the development of new products, the creation of long-term measures, and the introduction of innovative methods of promoting the destination globally.
