The scholarship agreements were signed at the University of Mostar, with some contracts due to be completed on Thursday because of the large number of recipients.
Of the 2,007 scholarships awarded to Croats abroad, 1,784 are intended for Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This includes 1,572 students enrolled at universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina and 212 students from the country studying in Croatia.
The remaining scholarships will go to Croatian students from Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Kosovo.
Each recipient will receive €175 per month for ten months, amounting to €1,750 for the academic year.
The programme is worth around €3.5 million this year. Since 2016, more than 10,500 scholarships have been awarded, with over €14 million allocated to the scheme.
Zvonko Milas, State Secretary at the Central State Office for Croats Abroad, said the programme represented an investment in young people and their future, as well as a confirmation of the enduring ties within the Croatian community.
“You are the future and the very best that Bosnia and Herzegovina has to offer,” Milas told students.
Darijana Filipović, a member of the House of Representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Parliamentary Assembly, said the scholarships provided vital support to students and their families.
These scholarships are much more than financial assistance. They are a powerful boost to students’ ambitions, Filipović said.