Quality Education

“COMMON CAUSE COMMUNITY”

The “Common Cause Community” program cycle, launched in 2023 and implemented during 2024, was dedicated to the development of science and education in 13 partner cities and municipalities, namely to improving conditions for education and building the capacity of scientific institutions. Within this cycle, the Company supported 54 projects in implementation of which it invested RSD 144.5 million. The results were presented to the public through the organisation of the “Common Cause Community” caravan during 2024.

The aforementioned caravan promoted, among other things, the results of the project of the “Karolina Karas” Primary School in Horgoš, which was equipped with new digital devices, video surveillance, and furniture. The entrance hall of the “Jovan Bandur” Music School in Pančevo was completely reconstructed, and the Technical School in Kikinda received a modern welding simulator that, in addition to artificially creating the desired real-life situation and improving the quality and safety of teaching, significantly reduces carbon dioxide emissions. Projects for the renovation of the walls of the gymnasiums of two elementary schools in the municipality of Žitište have been implemented. At the “Dositej Obradović” Elementary School in Bočar, the gymnasium has been equipped with a new LED sports scoreboard and sound system, while the gymnasium at the “Miloje Vasić” High School in Veliko Gradište has been equipped with new lighting and inverter air conditioners for energy efficiency increase. In addition to the above, other projects of different organisations and institutions were implemented in partner cities and municipalities.

“THE ENERGY OF KNOWLEDGE”

The “Energy of Knowledge” program has been implemented for more than ten years as a program that creates a correct value system and positively influences the culture of education and work in the social community, and especially encourages positive identification with young people. During 2024, NIS implemented numerous activities within this program, and continued successful cooperation with educational and scientific institutions, as well as providing scholarships to the best students, in accordance with its personnel needs.

In past year one new scholarship was awarded to a student studying in the Russian Federation, as well as five scholarships awarded through the Fund for Scholarships and Encouraging the Advancement of Gifted Students and Young Scientists and Artists of the University of Novi Sad. These scholarships allow students from different parts of Serbia to receive equal opportunities for quality education. The Fund for Scholarships and Encouraging the Advancement of Gifted Students and Young Scientists and Artists awarded NIS a certificate of appreciation for its long-standing support and scholarship of students.

In addition to the above, NIS has also signed five new memoranda of cooperation with higher education institutions, namely with the University of Defence, the Faculty of Philosophy in Niš, the Faculty of Security, the Faculty of Law in Novi Sad, and the Faculty of Law in Belgrade.

Through the “Energy of Knowledge” program, NIS adapted more than 70 classrooms and laboratories from 2012 to the end of 2024. In 2024 alone, it renovated Russian language classrooms in three schools: Elementary School “Prva Vojvođanska Brigada” in Novi Sad, Elementary School “Filip Višnjić” in Višnjićevo and Elementary School “Despot Stefan Lazarević” in Babušnica, and the Russian language department at the Philological Grammar School in Belgrade was also officially opened, as was the physics department at the Electro technical School “Nikola Tesla” in Belgrade. These activities not only improve the education infrastructure, but also create better conditions for the learning and work of students and teaching staff.

Continuous cooperation with educational institutions continued through the implementation of more than 15 guest lectures by employees for students of partner faculties. Three engineers employed by the Company continued their regular lectures at the Technical Faculty “Mihajlo Pupin” in Zrenjanin, within the study program “Industrial Engineering in Oil and Gas Exploitation”, in accordance with the Law on Higher Education. This type of cooperation allows students to get acquainted with practice and gain valuable practical experience. NIS’s support was also crucial for the accreditation of the master’s program “Industrial Engineering in Oil and Gas Exploitation” at the “Mihajlo Pupin” Faculty of Technology in Zrenjanin.

Five chromatographs were also donated to the Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Belgrade. At the ceremony marking the Day of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, NIS was presented with a Plaque for Charity for the Benefit of the Academic Community.

During 2024, the company also introduced a new initiative in the form of a two-week student internship for 62 students from nine partner faculties, which contributed to a stronger connection between theoretical knowledge and practical experience and increased the level of cooperation with educational institutions. Internships were organised for scholarship recipients of the program, ranging from one to two months in duration. Additionally, visits were arranged for pupils, professors, and students from partner faculties and high schools to the company facilities.

Since NIS traditionally supports competitions in the fields of mathematics, physics and chemistry, last year it provided support to domestic and international knowledge Olympiads. Our high school students won 14 medals at international competitions in Great Britain, Iran and Saudi Arabia. Supporting competitions encourages academic excellence and motivates young people to engage and develop in various fields of science. For its long-term support to the Serbian Chemical Society, NIS was awarded a certificate of appreciation by this society. The two-day 11th NIS Russian Language Olympiad was also held at the Faculty of Philosophy in Niš, in which more than 700 students participated in the first round, while 110 students from Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina competed in the final for the title of the best.

Support for bilingual Serbian-Russian classes in three schools in Serbia continued – the “Jovan Jovanović Zmaj” Gymnasium in Novi Sad, the Aleksinac Gymnasium and the “Jovan Popović” Elementary School in Novi Sad.

The “Energy of Knowledge” program continues to contribute to the development of the academic and professional potential of young people, and NIS plays an important role in strengthening the quality of education and improving the quality of life of the community in this area.