Mirdin Zilić, the scholarship winner for doctoral studies provided by the French Government

Mirdin Zilić, Head of the Human Resources Office and Deputy Secretary-General at International Burch University, has won a scholarship for doctoral studies for the academic year 2021/2024, provided by the French Government through the French Embassy in BiH. For his doctoral studies, Mirdin chose Université Paul Valéry – Montpellier III.

“It all started during the pandemic period when I was thinking about the role of crisis communication and human resource management in universities during the pandemic and how social support affects the perceived uncertainty and emotional exhaustion of university staff. After doing some thinking and talking with people who encouraged me, I contacted Assist. Prof. Dr. Nereida Hadžiahmetović and under her mentorship I wrote a project proposal for a doctoral study. With this ten-page proposal, I was able to apply and successfully go through the French government’s scholarship selection process, where I will spend the next three years at Paul Valéry-Montpellier III University under the Cotutelle Joint Doctoral Agreement between this university and IBU, ” explains Mirdin.

Mirdin Zilić has already had the opportunity to visit France to attend the ceremony marking the beginning of doctoral studies at the University of Paul Valéry – Montpellier III, which was held on November 8, 2021. During his visit, he had a meeting with his mentor Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mihaela Alexandra Tudor, with whom he consulted, and officially began his doctoral research work on the topic: “Crisis communication and human resource management in universities during the Covid-19 pandemic.” Since this is a joint doctoral program of the two universities,  Assist. Prof. Dr. Nereida Hadžiahmetović will be his mentor at International Burch University.

“I am very thankful to the Government of France and the Embassy of France in BiH for awarding me a doctoral scholarship and enabling me to make my dreams come true,” concludes Mirdin.