Adjutant General stands with Serbian leaders.

Photo by by Spc. Jessica Silhavy, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs

Paolo DeMaria (from left) superintendent of public instruction for the Ohio Department of Education, Maj. Gen. John C. Harris Jr., Ohio adjutant general, Serbian Ambassador to the U.S. Marko Djuric and Randy Gardner, chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education, stand for a photo May 14, 2021, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. They were at a memorandum of understanding signing among the Ohio Department of Higher Education, Ohio Department of Education and Serbia’s Ministry of Education to pledge continued cooperation at the primary, secondary and higher education levels. The Ohio National Guard has been paired with Serbia for the past 15 years through the State Partnership Program.

Serbia, State of Ohio agencies continue education partnership

Story by Spc. Jessica Silhavy, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs

COLUMBUS, Ohio (05/14/21)

Recently, Serbian Ambassador to the U.S. Marko Djuric, along with Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor Randy Gardner and Superintendent of Public Instruction for the Ohio Department of Education Paolo DeMaria, signed a memorandum of understanding on educational cooperation during an event at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

The memorandum of understanding (MOU) is an agreement between the Ohio Department of Higher Education, Ohio Department of Education (ODE) and Serbia’s Ministry of Education to cooperate at the primary, secondary and higher education levels. Serbia and the ODE have agreed to encourage the creation of “sister schools” that will support joint language learning, as well as understanding of history, culture and tradition at the primary and secondary school levels.

For higher education, the cooperation agrees to explore opportunities in exchange programs between universities and faculties, and encourage companies from Serbia and Ohio to offer student internships or work-study type of exchanges.

For higher education, the cooperation agrees to explore opportunities in exchange programs between universities and faculties, and encourage companies from Serbia and Ohio to offer student internships or work-study type of exchanges.

The education agreement was made possible through the partnership developed 15 years ago this year between the Ohio National Guard and Serbian Armed Forces. Ohio and Serbia have been partnered in security cooperation activities since 2006 as part of the State Partnership Program, which is managed by the National Guard Bureau. Those activities have included visits and exchanges, military exercises, information sharing, disaster preparedness collaboration and professional development.

“The educational cooperation agreement between Ohio and Serbia showcases how our military partnership has evolved and grown since 2006,” said Maj. Gen. John C. Harris Jr., Ohio adjutant general, who was on hand during the MOU signing ceremony. “Broadening the scope of our exchanges has been mutually beneficial, and it’s exciting to see what the future holds as we continue to explore other avenues for cooperation.”

For 15 years, Ohio and Serbia have developed a lasting friendship as part of the State Partnership Program that goes beyond military ties and serves as the strong foundation for success of the educational cooperation MOU and future exchanges.