Strengthening Ties with the Academic Community: Study Visit of SSST Students to BHAS

The study visit was organised to provide students with direct insight into the work of official statistics, the role and responsibilities of BHAS within the statistical system of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the importance of reliable and methodologically sound data in analysing economic and social developments.

At the beginning of the visit, the students were welcomed by the Director of the Agency, Vesna Ćužić, who emphasised the importance of statistics as a foundation for informed decision-making, public policy design, and monitoring social and economic development. She highlighted that statistics are not merely a set of numbers, but a key public resource, and expressed BHAS’s commitment to promoting statistics among young people through initiatives such as this visit.

During the visit, BHAS experts Edin Šabanović, Assistant Director of BHAS and Alen Mrgud, Head of Department for Editorial and Publishing, delivered a presentation on the Agency’s work and the key phases of the statistical process—from data collection and processing to dissemination and user access. Students were introduced to concrete examples of statistical products, as well as the practical use of official statistics in line with international standards and the methodologies of the European Statistical System.

The visit confirms the continued efforts of the Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina to promote statistics through openness and direct communication, strengthen statistical literacy, and enhance understanding of the importance of official data in contemporary society.