Graduation ceremony of the University Department of Forensic Sciences’ students was held on Tuesday, May 18, in front of the Three Faculties building. At the ceremony, 70 masters of forensic science received their well deserved degrees in one of these four university graduate study modules in "Forensics": Crime Scene Investigation, Forensic Chemistry and Molecular Biology, Forensics and National Security as well as Forensic Accounting.
Among others who attended the ceremony, there were Ante Sanader, Croatian Parliament’s Vice President, Slobodan Marendić, Acting Chief of Split-Dalmatia’s Police Administration, and prof. Dragan Ljutić Ph.D., University of Split Rector, and assoc. prof. Damir Piplica Ph.D., University Department of Forensic Sciences’ Head, addressed the promoted students.

- Today 70 young people received diplomas they deserved, which is a great accomplishment and honor for our University, city and the state, because forensics is one of the new areas where we are just specializing in. University’s management has so far made efforts to strengthen forensics, and will continue to do so, showing what truth, righteousness and honest work mean today. Forensic scientists can get us near that goal the most, because they should not only investigate crimes, but also warn us, so that they do not even occur. We can be proud of this University’s important component, this is just an indicator of our University’s growth and development - Rector Ljutić pointed out.

Department Head Piplica told the former students that great efforts and sacrifice that went into their studies resulted in a great reward - diplomas given to them today.
- To date, 399 students graduated from our University Department, established in the end of July 2009. This figure also includes today's 70 masters of forensic science. Among these, 22 completed the module Crime Scene Investigation, 12 Forensic Chemistry and Molecular Biology, 26 Forensics and National Securities, and 10 Financial and Accounting Forensics – Piplica recapped.
He emphasized that starting from this academic year, in the University Department of Forensic Sciences, students can, at the graduate university level, elect the fifth module - Fire Management and Investigation.
- Masters of forensic science in this module acquire knowledge and skills in the field of managing fire brigades and running fire investigations. They acquire competence for dealing with preventing and protecting against fires and explosions, extinguishing fires, rescuing people, providing technical assistance in accidents and dangerous situations, and performing other tasks in catastrophes. With that expertise, according to law, they can work in the Croatian Fire Brigade, public fire brigades and as security staff in economic entities - said Piplica.
One of this Department’s big steps forward is launching the undergraduate level of studies, starting from the next academic year. In this regard, its Head once again thanked all stakeholders who participated in the launch, the Department’s entire teaching and non-teaching staff, the Ministry of Science and Education, the Agency for Science and Higher Education, particularly the University’s Managemenr led by the Rector, prof. Dragan Ljutić Ph.D. for all his support.
- It is a well-known fact that we are developing forensic sciences at our university department with an interdisciplinary study program, which is unique not only in Croatia, but in this part of Europe. We can be proud of everything we have done to affirm forensics as a science as well as professions that stem from it, as so many already label them professions of the future - concluded Piplica.

In addition to diplomas to the new generation of Masters of Science in forensics, awards in the form of commendations were given to best students for past two academic years, Jelena Mamut, Mihaela Paušić and Barbara Krvavac.