GRADUATION CELEBRATION
The University Business Academy in Novi Sad held a Graduation Celebration in honor of students of the Faculty of Law for Commerce and Judiciary and the Faculty of Economics and Engineering Management who enrolled in the 2022/23 academic year. The event opened with an address by Prof. Milan Počuča, PhD, Rector of the University Business Academy, whose remarks are presented below in full:
Dear graduates, esteemed colleagues,
Today, I stand before you with great pride at a moment that marks the end of an important chapter in your lives and the beginning of a new one—one that will be even more challenging, exciting, and full of opportunities. By completing your studies at the faculties of the University Business Academy in Novi Sad, you have achieved something truly worthy of respect and recognition.
This is not merely the end of lectures, examinations, and your academic obligations. It is also a moment to reflect on years of hard work, dedication, sacrifice, and perseverance. Along the way, there were undoubtedly moments of uncertainty, but also those filled with friendship, support, shared experiences, and many successes. All these years—which seem to have passed especially quickly from the perspective of us professors—have helped shape you into individuals ready to take responsibility for your professional and personal futures.
I would like to believe that the knowledge you have acquired is far more than a collection of facts. I say this because I know how much effort we have invested, as a university community, in encouraging you not to learn mechanically, but to think critically about the information you encounter every day. We have sought to develop your ability to analyze, solve problems, recognize opportunities where others see obstacles, and make decisions with confidence and courage.
These are the very skills that will prove essential in the years ahead.
The world you are entering as educated, thoughtful, and responsible young people is changing more rapidly than ever before. Artificial intelligence is becoming an integral part of everyday life, every profession, and virtually every process. It is transforming the way we work, learn, communicate, and create.
You are facing challenges that previous generations could hardly have imagined. Competition in the labor market is becoming increasingly intense, and a university degree alone is no longer a guarantee of success. Rather, it serves as a foundation upon which you will continue to build your knowledge, skills, and professional identity. Your future success will depend on your ability to adapt, collaborate with emerging technologies, and use them as valuable tools rather than perceive them as threats.
Artificial intelligence will not replace people who know how to think, create, innovate, and lead. However, it may replace those who are unwilling to learn, grow, and adapt. That is why I encourage you to remain curious, continue learning throughout your lives, embrace innovation, and cultivate the qualities that no machine can replicate: ethical conduct, professional and personal integrity, empathy, creativity, and a strong sense of responsibility.
On behalf of the University Business Academy, I congratulate you on everything you have accomplished. We are proud of you. Let this day serve as a reminder of how much you are capable of achieving—and remember that this is only the beginning.
As always, the doors of our University remain open to you. We will continue to be here to offer support, guidance, and advice whenever you may need it on your professional and personal journeys.
Thank you for choosing our University and for the trust you have placed in us.
I would also like to congratulate your parents and families for their unwavering support, patience, and encouragement throughout your studies.
In closing, I would like to leave you with the words of the great scientist and two-time Nobel Prize laureate Marie Skłodowska Curie:
"Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood.
Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less."
These words remain as relevant today as they were when they were first spoken. Fear often stems from a lack of understanding, while knowledge empowers us to face challenges with confidence and courage.
Novi Sad, June 10, 2026
University Rector
Prof. Milan Počuča, PhD
