Winner. Rector of the Year 2022

Zoran Tomić

Academic title, degree: Full Professor, Ph.D.
Position: Rector
Institution: University of Mostar
City: Mostar
Country: Bosnia and Herzegovina

Dr. Zoran Tomić is a Full University Professor, Rector of the University of Mostar (2017-present), regular member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (2019), corresponding member of the Croatian Academy of Science and Art of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2018). He was a member of the Council for Science of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2015-2020), Chairman of the Rector's Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2018), Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Agency for Development of Higher Education and Quality Improvement of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2017-2018), Vice President of the Council of the BiH Communications Regulatory Agency (2014-2020). Assistant to the Editor-in-Chief of the Croatian Encyclopedia of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2015-present).

He was educated in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mostar and Sarajevo) and the Republic of Croatia (EU). Professionally trained and specialized through education programs in the USA, Germany, and Great Britain.

He held the following positions:
• Assistant Rector of the University of Mostar, 2009 - 2013;
• Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Mostar, 2013 - 2017;
• Head of Journalism Department at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, 2009 - 2013;
• Head of Public Relations Department at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Mostar, 2014 - 2017;
• Head of PhD Program - Public Relations at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, 2008 - 2014.

He cooperates in implementing classes for undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate, and doctoral studies at the University of Zagreb, the University of Dubrovnik, the University North in the Republic of Croatia (EU), and the University of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

He is the author of 26 books, including 7 university textbooks, and more than 80 scientific and professional papers. He participated and presented at more than 100 scientific and professional national and international conferences.

He is a member of several international rectors' associations and scientific networks, such as IAU, EUA; DRC - Danube Rectors' Conference; RCAA – Rectors' Conference of the Alps-Adriatic Universities; Rector's Conference of Southeast Europe; Rector's Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina; RZ RH – Rector's Assembly of the Republic of Croatia.

He was awarded with 18 domestic and international awards, among them:
• Plaque for long-term successful cooperation and personal contribution to the multidisciplinarity of science, Montenegrin Sports Academy, 2021;
• Golden plaque to the Founder and Honorary President of the PR & Media Days Mostariensis conference 2021;
• Plaque of the Rectors' Conference of BiH for outstanding contribution to the development of the university through exceptional work in the scientific, teaching, and professional field and for spreading the reputation of the University in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the world, 2018;
• International award "For Contribution and Selfless Commitment to The Development of the Public Relations Profession in Southeast Europe", PRO-PR, Zagreb, 2012.

Prof. Dr. Zoran Tomić is a regular member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts in Salzburg (2020).

He is the author of the world's first Encyclopaedic Public Relations Dictionary.

Professor Tomić wrote 26 books (including seven university textbooks currently used at several universities in many countries) and over 80 scientific and professional papers. He has been cited more than 1000 times in scientific publications. The scientific public declared his book “Public Relations - Theory and Practice” as the "Bible of Public Relations".

He participated in more than 100 international scientific conferences and initiated several.

Prof. Dr. Tomić successfully led the University of Mostar during the COVID-19 pandemic and proved himself a powerful crisis manager.

He founded the University Television and the University Media Center and introduced new and innovative scientific content into the classes. He initiated the foundation of the University Press (PRESSUM), the University Center for Information Technologies (SUMIT), and the University Gallery.

Thanks to Rector Tomić, the University of Mostar is the first University in BiH to introduce an electronic university ID card/e-index.

He initiated the establishment of the University Foundation for socially disadvantaged students and revived the Office for Students with Disabilities at the University of Mostar, which ensured the full inclusion of these students in the academic community.

Prof. Dr. Tomić signed more than 170 international agreements with universities all over the world.