Their graduation ceremony, held at the Professor Zdravko Grebo Center for Interdisciplinary Studies of the University of Sarajevo, brought together diplomats, university faculty, ERMA staff, and students to celebrate both academic excellence and the transformative journey these students undertook over the past year.
Since its inception in 2000, ERMA has trained around 680 graduates, who now work across Southeast Europe, the EU, and globally. Jointly awarded by the University of Sarajevo and the University of Bologna, the degree stands as a symbol of European academic cooperation and shared values.
The ceremony opened with remarks from Prof. Dženana Husremović, Vice Rector for Teaching and Student Affairs at the University of Sarajevo, followed by Riccardo Righielli, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Italy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Aurélie Valtat, Head of Section “European Integration, Political, Press and Information” at the EU Delegation to BiH and EUSR.
Representatives of the graduating class, Nura Hamzić and Adna Mujović, reflected on the personal and academic growth experienced throughout the program. Their testimonies echoed the sentiments shared by ERMA Alumni Network (EAN) members Anju Marie Sadasivam and Clara Salaverria Embid, who highlighted the strength of the ERMA community and its ongoing contribution to human rights practice. Programme Co-Directors Prof. Marco Borraccetti and Prof. Asim Mujkić presented the academic report for 2024/2025 and announced the recipients of this year’s awards.
Armin Tufo received the Global Campus six-month paid internship award for academic excellence. Entenela Ndrevataj’s thesis will be published in the Global Campus repository. Adna Mujović and Tarik Hodžić received the Best Thesis Award, with their work to be featured in the ERMA Best Theses booklet.
For Tufo, the ceremony marked not just an academic milestone but also a deeply personal experience. “The ERMA journey was as much about intellectual growth as it was about empathy, understanding, and responsibility in addressing human rights challenges,” he reflected. “Receiving the Global Campus internship award is both an honor and a reminder of the work that lies ahead — beyond the classroom.”
Amidst the joy and pride of graduation, many students also expressed concern for the global state of democracy and human rights. The world often seems to move “one step forward and two steps back,” confronting challenges once thought to be overcome — from environmental degradation to exploitative production chains and the impact of the arms industry.
Yet, the ceremony ended on a hopeful note. For 25 years, ERMA has served as a beacon for young professionals committed to positive change. Each new generation carries forward the same aspiration: to defend justice, advance human rights, and inspire others to believe in the shared values of freedom and dignity.
The University of Sarajevo and the University of Bologna congratulated the graduates and warmly welcomed them into the ERMA Alumni Network, wishing them success as they begin the next chapter of their professional journey — one grounded in knowledge, empathy, and a steadfast commitment to human rights.
