Faculty of Mining is an organization unit which is a part of University of Banja Luka, that is located in the City of Prijedor. It was founded as a section of Faculty of Technology – University of Banja Luka on May 16th 1997, and this high education institution on May 12th 2009 was segregated and became the Faculty of Mining – University of Banja Luka.
First generation of students started their education in school year 1997/98 and the faculty continued with educating new students since then.
On official demand which was sent to Government of Republic of Srpska, a response in form of Rescript was issued by Ministry of Education and Culture no. УП–И–06-1 on May 16th 1997 by which was founded Department of Mining as a section of Faculty of Technology – University of Banja Luka.
First demand to change the status of Department of Mining as a section of Faculty of Technology – University of Banja Luka and its transformation to become Faculty of Mining – University of Banja Luka was attempted on October 10th 1998, after the local authority on a session made conclusions and expressed its will to do all what is necessary that new school year 1998/99 comes with this high education institution new status. In conclusions that were made on that date was an explanation in 10 parts why this local community needs a Faculty of Mining and how (economically) to finance it. As a part of conclusions was attached the Report of Expert commission about founding Faculty of Mining as a part of University of Banja Luka in which was shown raw material base, status and ratings of mining in territory of Republic of Srpska. That Report declares that Republic of Srpska will need 20 freshly educated engineers of mining and geology on a year level. This initiative to transform Department of Mining in Faculty of Mining was supported by signatures and verification of President of municipality of Prijedor, Dean of Faculty of Technology, director of “ZDP Mine RŽR Ljubija”, Chief and Deputy od Chief of Mining section, Chief of Staff of President of municipality of Prijedor, Head of the Department for Social Activity, reputable experts in mining community and Member of Assembly of Republic of Srpska came from the City of Prijedor. They all insisted that Government of Republic of Srpska takes in consideration positive Conclusion at assembly of Council for development of University education issued on April 25th 2001, that was unanimously accepted, on which whom would Department of Mining as a section of Faculty of Technology – University of Banja Luka be transformed in to Faculty of Mining – University of Banja Luka. This attempt was unsuccessful, and Department of Mining continued to be a section of Faculty of Technology – University of Banja Luka.
On a May 12th 2009 Department of Mining as a section of Faculty of Technology – University of Banja Luka officially formed Scientific-Teaching council and with that became Faculty of Mining – University of Banja Luka.
First Dean of Faculty of Mining – University of Banja Luka was professor doc. Nadežda Ćalić.
Five year – first cycle of education in field of mining engineering had a long tradition on other eminent education institutions in Europe and word wide. On Department of Mining as a section of Faculty of Technology – University of Banja Luka up until year 2007 education took place by five year teaching process (nine semesters of undergraduate studies and one semester for Final thesis) according to applicable regulations of University of Banja Luka at the time.
Education plan and program for Faculty of Mining in year 2008/2009 was changed and adjusted according to Bologna Declaration, and from that period of time on Faculty of Mining students are studying by the program “Mining”, all according to “Law about high education” of Republic of Srpska.
Since the beginning of the school year 2011/12 the Faculty of Mining started offering education for master studies.
Teaching process is based on „Regulation on the conditions for the establishment and start of work for higher education institutions and about procedure fulfilment of conditions” (Official Gazette Republic of Srpska no. 35/11) from April 4th 2011 and already mentioned Decision of Board of Directors University of Banja Luka about creating Faculty of Mining – University of Banja Luka in city of Prijedor from March 27th 2009. Faculty of Mining has Permission to teach first cycle program of “Mining” from November 12th 2010, second cycle “Mining and geological engineering October 31st 2011 and first cycle “Geological engineering” from July 26th 2016 (Decision no. 02/02-3.1918-9/18).
Valid teaching plan on Faculty of Mining – University of Banja Luka was adopted with some changes and amendments on 66th Assembly of Scientific-Teaching council on May 15th 2018 and confirmed by Decision number 02/02-3.1918-9/18 – Senate of University of Banja Luka.
In the past period there were few amendments of teaching plan, that had a goal to let student decide for them self what kind of education will they get. Along with a list of obligatory subjects, there is a list of optional subjects in which they can choose what specialty will they study in two separate programs “Mining” or “Geological engineering”. More on the subject can be found on the menu “Studies”.
In the amendments that were added in year 2013 (confirmed on assembly of Senate of University of Banja Luka held in February 20th 2013) provided students to choose studying on a program “Oil and gas exploitation”, with additional new set of optional subjects, when they start six semester of teaching.
Teaching plan had some additional changes in year 2015 (amendments added March 18th 2015 on Assembly of Scientific-Teaching council and were confirmed by Decision number 02/04-1009-151/15 of Senate of University of Banja Luka on May 26th 2015). These additional changes had in mind that first two semesters on study programs “Mining” or “Geological engineering” will have more of the same subjects (for student who after first year of studying have a desire to change study program and more easy switch their specialty). Some changes had been made in year 2016 to adjust all study programs in form of ECTS points, classes, teaching, and teaching exercises.
In the past 20 years of existence of Faculty of Mining and study program of “Mining” title of graduate in mining engineering has gotten 128 students (up to December 31st 2019) and the most of them got their job immediately after graduating, not only in field of mining, but also in teaching department and on other institutions that are in need of mining expertise. It is also interesting to say that some of graduates are employed abroad in Republic of Serbia, Norway, Scotland, Kazakhstan etc.
Master studies – second cycle of studies finished in total of five students with a title “Master of mining”. Third cycle of studies finished in total three students with a title “Doctor of mining”.
Number of teaching staff with a full time job on Faculty of Mining allows continuous teaching process, but we have to say that in teaching process we have members of teaching staff from other Universities. (University of Beograd – Faculty of Mining and Geology, University of Ljubljana – NTF).
Need for freshly educated engineers of mining and geology, especially for geology engineers is evident, but also in teaching staff department geology experts are needed.