More than anything else, the University of Arts is about people, its students and professors – the most talented, creative, dedicated and worthy individuals. This is why our vision encompasses distinctive personal and individual vision of all our students and professors in their endeavour to reach their full potential as artists and scientists. Our mission is to make sure that the University remains the place where this vision becomes reality.

The University was founded 60 years ago as an association of existing faculties in the field of arts – faculties of Fine Arts, Music, Applied and Dramatic Arts, covering the widest range of artistic disciplines, encouraging and improving comparative researches of artistic practice, theory and science of arts. The fundamental principle of the University of Arts has always been an approach to education based on the unity of artistic and scientific research work.  Specific aspects and autonomy of each of the faculties are respected, but their integrative function is also recognized as very important. Adopting increasingly favoured approaches that are not limited to one kind of art, the University commenced interdisciplinary master and doctoral studies some twenty years ago, both in the field of theory and in the domain of multimedia arts that follow the challenges of the new digital paradigm. Interdisciplinarity continues to be the principle and framework for further development and modernization of teaching at the University of Arts. The University is committed to the permanent improvement of the overall student experience, creating an inspiring environment for work, cherishing the student-professor relationship, pursuing outstanding results in art and promoting the sense of true belonging to the University as a community.

In the coming years, we will continually strive to overcome the existing isolation of the faculties and to further improve cooperation in joint artistic and scientific-research projects. We will also encourage the introduction of new study programs based on the synthesis or interweaving of classical artistic disciplines, which would additionally enable internal student mobility, a wider and more diverse range of elective subjects and, ultimately, become the integrated university as recognized by the European education system.

In the coming period, we will also promote the international visibility of the University as the leading national and regional centre for arts education and coordinate development activities with the initiatives of cultural and creative policies in Europe. This would ultimately result in the increased mobility of both students and teachers.

In order to keep up with the times ahead, we are ready to support more innovative curricula, in line with cultural and technological changes and requirements of the society. This means that learning outcomes of the study programs will be recognized by the society as a whole and contribute to acquiring competencies essential for further professional development.

Bearing in mind the decades-long development of scientific research at the theory departments, in the scientific institutes of the faculty, as well as participation in domestic and international scientific projects, we respect the noteworthy results of our teachers, associates and students, and emphasize the importance of promoting this activity. Since the academic community of the University and its scientific research work are recognized as an important segment of the affirmation of the University of Arts internationally, it is necessary to further support and stimulate future research and participation in domestic and international projects.

As creativity and research in the field of contemporary art have been inseparable for some time, we believe that more creative approach to the curricula and teaching process will support and inspire the model of artists who act both as creators and theoreticians – artists who express their creative being through artistic practice, while contemplating and searching for new artistic expressions and more challenging levels of action.

Successful development of the University is conditioned by the participation of students in the work of university bodies and the engagement of their representatives in the decision-making process. We will continue the tradition of partnership with students, and build our strategies for the future by respecting their opinion.

By establishing the Center for Career Guidance, we will continue to improve the prospects for student employment. The Center will provide counselling and other kinds of help with the goal of getting the students involved in professional life and translating their knowledge and skills into successful careers. Likewise, our goal is to strengthen ties with former students of the University of Arts, both from the country and abroad, by means of launching alumni associations.

 In the years to come, the University of Arts will continue to pursue its mission and provide everyone with equal opportunities and the best of education.