In Memoriam: Branko Radojicic, PhD, Full Professor at the Faculty of Philosophy and Emeritus of UMNE
On Tuesday, June 21, 2022, a long-time professor at the Faculty of Philosophy in Nikšić, Branko Radojicic, PhD emeritus of UMNE, academician of DANU has left us.
Branko Radojicic was born on November 9, 1927 in Vitasojevici, in the Municipality of Niksic. He finished his four-year primary school in Bogmilovići, after which he enrolled in the Higher Real High School in Nikšić in 1938. Due to the war events, in which he participated as a member of the Youth Niksic Battalion, he interrupted his schooling, which he continued in 1945. He finished high school in 1948. As a high school student, he is actively involved in sports, plays for the Sutjeska Football Club, participates in work actions in the construction of the Belgrade - Zagreb road, as well as in a number of other activities. According to the plan of the Ministry of Education of the Peoples Republic of Montenegro, he enrolls in the Department of Geography and Geology at the Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb. He graduated from the Faculty by being awarded the first prize, as the best graduate work of the University of Zagreb for the academic year 1952-1953. Suggested by the same Faculty, the Ministry approves his specialization in the field of Physical Geography and Karst Studies, led by the then best scientist in that field in this area, Josip Roglić, PhD.
In September 1954, he was appointed professor at the Gymnasium in Nikšić for school year 1958/1959. He has been assistant director of the Gymnasium and the director of the First Secondary Vocational School for two years. From January 1961 to January 1976, he was Director of the Gymnasium in Nikšić. In the same period, he established and managed the High School of Economics, from 1965 to 1973, and which worked in the building of the Gymnasium.
During his management of the Gymnasium, the school received many social awards from the Republic Institute for the Improvement of Education in Montenegro and the Institute for the Improvement of Education in Yugoslavia and was among the best.
He was acting director of the Republic Institute for Advancement of Education in 1976 and made an important contribution to his work and development. At the end of 1976, he was elected a professor at the Faculty of Teacher Education in Nikšić, where he worked until his retirement in 1996. In April 1979, at the Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, he obtained title of Doctor of Science under mentorship of Josip Roglić, PhD. During his work at the Faculty of Teacher Education, he especially worked on improvement of the Study Program for History and Geography, until it grew into a four-year study, and later separated into an independent study program. Professor Radojicic was engaged at the Faculty even after his retirement, so he taught and was a member of the commissions for the defense of masters and doctoral theses, not only in our country, but also at related faculties in Belgrade, Novi Sad and Sarajevo.
He was Dean of the faculty for two terms, and he obtained title of professor emeritus by the decision of the Senate of the University of Montenegro, on June 4, 2005.
He was president and member of the presidency of the Geographical Society of Montenegro, he was a member of the presidency of the Geographical Societies of Yugoslavia, associate of the Commission for Karst of the International Geographical Union, editor of the Yearbook of the Geographical Society of Montenegro, participant and organizer of numerous seminars, symposiums. He was an honorary member of the Serbian Geographical Society, a member and president of the Speleological Society of Montenegro. He was a member of the Committee for Geology and Geography of MASA, Department of Natural Sciences, and he was elected a regular member in 1999. He spent several months on specializations in Russia, Italy, Poland, Germany and Syria. He is the author of a number of scientific and professional papers that treat geographical traits of Montenegro.
During his very successful work in education, Branko Radojicic also performed many social functions. He was a member of the Parliament of Montenegro from 1968 to 1976. From 1978 to 1982 he was the President of the Assembly of the Republic Self-governing Interest Community of Oriented Education, the President of the Education Council of the Municipality of Nikšić, a member of the Pedagogical Council of Montenegro and the Education Council of Yugoslavia. Gori and Yugoslavia.
He has received significant recognitions for his many years of successful work: the "Eighteenth September" Award of the Municipality of Nikšić in 1959.
The Oktoih Award in 1972 and the DANU Sclavorum regnum Award in 2002. He won: the Order of Labor of the Second Order in 1959, the Order of Merit for the People with Silver Rays in 1974 and the Order of the SFRY with a Silver Wreath in 1983.
He published the most important papers in the field of geographical science of Montenegro, of which the following should be pointed out: Geography of Montenegro - natural basis, Geography of Montenegro - social basis and regions, Waters of Montenegro and Geographical encyclopedic lexicon.
Dear our professor Radojicic, you have left an indelible mark in the science and educational system of Montenegro. Many students of the Nikšić Gymnasium and many generations of students of the Faculty in Nikšić will remember you with great reverence. You have been and remain a shining example of an excellent professor, colleague, leader, so we, your students, will try to follow the path you have paved for us.
It used to be said that he was the first among equals, but this time it is not true, now we can only say that today the best of the best is leaving.
May your praise and glory be eternal!