The Agreement will promote the cooperation in academic education and research between the Department for Cultural Studies and Oriental Languages (ICOS) of the University in Oslo and the Center of Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Studies (CIPS) of the University in Sarajevo.
The main purpose of the cooperation between ICOS and CIPS is the exchange of lecturers in the field of religious studies, as well as promotion of understanding, both in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Norway, of the socio-cultural role of religion in different societies in different periods. The exchange of lecturers specialized for scientific research of religion will improve the scope and depth of curricula in the field of religious studies at both universities.
CIPS will start with the postgraduate program in the field of religious studies in spring 2007. The intensive cooperation with the State University of Arizona, since 2004, has resulted in curricula and mentorship among researchers. The cooperation between CIPS and ICOS will be developed on those achievements.
The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs recognizes the importance of this cooperation and supports its implementation. The cooperation of these two institutions will have the goal of developing and strengthening the cooperation between the University in Sarajevo and the international community of researchers committed to scientific research of religion. With such activities they will contribute to the implementation of the Bologna standards in BiH, as well as the strengthening of academic and broader ties between Norway and BiH.