معرفی
Draško Gajić serves as an Associate Professor at the Department of Social Work within the Faculty of Political Sciences at the University of Banja Luka. His academic career spans over 15 years with significant contributions to social policy development and social work practice in Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly in the Republic of Srpska region. He teaches across multiple programs including Second-cycle academic studies in Social Policy and Human Resource Management, and First-cycle courses covering Poverty and Social Inclusion, Community Social Work, and Crisis Management.
His research focuses on critical intersections of social policy, human rights, and crisis response systems. Gajić has pioneered studies on foster care models for elderly populations, migration crisis management, and the impact of populism on social services for marginalized groups. His work consistently addresses practical implementation challenges within transitional societies, with particular attention to Bosnia and Herzegovina's complex post-conflict context. He employs both theoretical frameworks and field-based research to develop actionable policy recommendations.
Gajić's publication portfolio reveals a clear trajectory toward addressing emerging social challenges through comparative analysis. His recent work examines global migration crises, populist governance impacts on welfare systems, and innovative community-based service models. The thematic consistency across his publications demonstrates deep expertise in translating theoretical social policy concepts into practical social work applications within Southeast Europe's unique political landscape.
As project leader for UNICEF-funded initiatives including "The role of the Center for Social Work in crisis situations" (2016), he has directly influenced policy development for the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Republika Srpska. His collaborative approach spans multiple institutions, with frequent co-authorship with scholars like Andrea Rakanović Radonjić and Vesna Šućur-Janjetović. Gajić actively participates in international conferences including ECSWE and regional forums addressing social work education and crisis response capacity building.
Within the Department of Social Work, he contributes to curriculum development for specialized Master's programs while maintaining strong connections with social service providers across Republika Srpska. His work bridges academic research and practical social sector implementation, particularly through developing operational manuals for social work centers during natural disasters and creating minimum standards for institutional child care placements in collaboration with Save the Children UK.
