Dusan Mihajilovic

Although it is located at the top of a modern Belgrade high-riser, BOS nurtures the classic values of the ancient Agora. BOS is an incentive environment where individuals arguably discuss things that are really important, and they seek answers to questions that professors did not want, know or were not allowed to give them the answers.

Dusan Mihajilovic, alumni of the X generation of BOS and Head of Political and Public Diplomacy, Embassy of the United Kingdom in Belgrade

Jelena Sribar

BOS is an unforgettable experience for me, where I met some of the most talented and most open people I know. It's truly "the school with the best view". I was lucky not to be just a student of the BOS, there I’ve got my first formal job, which I proudly state in my CV.

Jelena Sribar, alumni of the X generation of BOS and HR Executive Director, Societe Generale Bank

Srdjan Majstrovic

At the time I attended the BOS, I considered my participation in programs dedicated to European integrations and civil society as a privilege of enjoying special academic freedom and freedom of thought in a way that was not available to students in formal studies. BOS gave me the opportunity to listen to the most eminent, domestic and foreign professors and experts and to test my knowledge and attitudes in an equal dialogue with them, which has contributed greatly to my academic, professional and personal development.

BOS is one of the few civil society organizations that has successfully overcome the challenges of state and society transformation after the year 2000 and democratic changes and to recognize its role in emerging circumstances. It is precisely in this intellectual vitality and the ability to recognize the moment, and in accordance with the moment to apply the vision of the School, the reason for sustainability and longevity of BOS is found.

Because of these reasons, BOS for me will always be a refuge for critical and fact-based dialogue, the place of freedom, the place that is gathering free-minded individuals, whose aim is to empower them and prepare them for the future roles to deal with in their lives.

Srdjan Majstorovic, alumni of the V generation of BOS and Deputy Director at the Office for European Integration of the Republic of Serbia

Predrag Topic

BOS for me (short story from April 2017):
I was a panellist at a discussion about a project from the field of social policy. Before my panel, a working meeting was held for participants who deal with this topic in a highly specialized manner. In casual and standard conversations during the break before my panel, the name of one of the participants came out: "He told them very well," "He looks at it much wider than everyone else", "Finally, someone said it in the right way", etc. My panel starts, after a few speakers it was my turn. On my left, I see the person who gives a few nods (I deeply believe) of a significant approval. It turns out that the man on my left is the one who was mentioned during the break. It later turns out to be alumni of BOS and a mentor on the A2S program. We never met before.

The width of the views. Comprehensiveness. Knowledge. Instant understanding. All this is multiplied by 24 generations and the number of people in each generation.
That was BOS 2004 for me, it’s the same today, and it will be in the future I have no doubts at all.

Predrag Topic, alumni of the XII generation of BOS and Executive Director for Planning and Development, Confluence Property Management

Vuk Damnjanovic

Students’ statements about the internship program

 "As a student of the XXIV generation, I had an internship at the Institute for Byzantine Studies of Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts. As an intern at this institute, I had the honour to stay and work at the office of Georgija Ostrogorskog, a byzantologist, professor at the Faculty of Philosophy and the founder of this institute. Reading his book "History of Byzantium", I made my first steps towards meeting with Byzantium. As a student at the Faculty of Political Science, I would not have the opportunity to get acquainted with the work of the Byzantine Institute, and when I saw that there was an option to do the internship program at the Institute for Byzantium, I decided to do it. People that are working at this institution are open, kind and willing to help. My job was related to the processing of the library fund. I brought with me the memory of Knez Mihailo street, more precisely the view of that street from the third floor, as well as on Belgrade's November morning, from the Blue Room terrace, Georgija Ostrogorski's cabinet. "

Vuk Damnjanovic, alumni of the XXIV generation of BOS and a graduate politologist

Aleksandra Zdravkovic

Students’ statements about Future Studies program 

"My first thought of Future Studies is people: young, ambitious, eager for knowledge, authentic, leaders in their professions and drivers of social change. Working one year with such people, but also with the Belgrade Open School team, brought many experiences and very pleasant moments. Discussions, conflicting opinions on various topics, the internship program and working with a mentor are just some of the activities that have made my stay at the BOS more than beautiful. The XVI floor of Belgrade Palace is a place where good is never enough, a place where people share their knowledge encouraging all young people to work on themselves, contributing not only to personal development but also to the development of society as such. The program has brought out over 1,000 outstanding alumni, who today, after 20 years, unselfishly engage in numerous activities of this program. The team of the Belgrade Open School gave me an opportunity to work within the BOS BIZ sector, I will try to share my experiences and encourage other young people to become part of the Future Studies. "

Aleksandra Zdravkovic, alumni of the XXII generation of BOS and projects assistant of the Belgrade Open School 

Gordana Bojanic

Students’ statements about the internship program

"The professional team of the British Council consists of approachable and pleasant people and if you have any doubts you can contact them at any time. Since we are new in the labour market it is very useful to know that they employ and mentor a large number of young people. The office is dynamic, flexible and offers a lot of different tasks to work on. It is never boring there. I was doing market research. I am very thankful for this experience and would strongly recommend this organization to anyone who is willing to work on their professional development regardless of the area of interest."

Gordana Bojanic, alumni of the XXII generation of BOS

Rastko Lukic

Students’ statements about Future Studies program 

"When I think of BOS, I think of my friends with whom I have come into a world that I have always thought belonged to some other people. Now I know how important it is to find a place where someone is listening to what we have to say. BOS has taught me that it is worth fighting for a society based on knowledge and freedom because it is the only society I want to see in the future. With the support of my colleagues, but also of every member of the BOS team, I am aware that I have made great progress in my education, but also made the first steps in my professional career. I am sure that the 24th generation shares my opinion when I say that all my expectations are more than exceeded and that behind us is one of the most beautiful and most successful years of our lives. "

Rastko Lukic, alumni of the XXIV generation of BOS and a law graduate

Uros Mamic

Students’ statements about the internship program

"The impressions are extremely positive. The atmosphere in the foreign politics department is warm and I am certainly pleased about gaining my first working experience here. In the beginning, I dealt with agency news, then I dealt with the subheading personalities and events, then they gave me to translate foreign sources as preparation for the texts that others have written. In the second month of the internship, they even entrusted me to write two authors article that is published in newspapers and on the Internet. At the end of practice, I performed routine tasks almost unattended. With colleagues, I have built a great relationship, and I had the opportunity to meet several prominent journalists from the magazine. Overall, experience in Politika has exceeded my expectations."

Uros Mamic, alumni of the XXI generation of BOS and PhD student at the Faculty of Political Science. He conducted the practice in Politika Newspapers and Magazines Ltd., in the foreign politics department