Danilo Kovač, a professor at Banja Luka Gymnasium and an assistant professor at the University of Banja Luka, has been named one of the top 50 teachers in the world as part of the Global Teacher Prize competition.
Kovač is the first educator from Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH to reach the finals of this prestigious global teaching contest, which has received over 100,000 applications since its inception.
Organized by the Varkey Foundation in partnership with UNESCO, the competition awards one teacher with a grand prize of $1 million.
Participants undergo multiple rounds of rigorous evaluation, including the assessment of their applications and interviews. The judging criteria focus on innovative teaching projects, student achievements, the teacher’s biography, prior awards, vision for various aspects of education, and social engagement outside the classroom.
Each year, a panel of experts selects 50 finalists from thousands of applicants worldwide.
Kovač expressed gratitude to the “Step by Step” organization, which nominated him as the winner of the Innovative Teacher Award, recognizing his dedication and effort in the teaching profession across BiH.
A distinguished career in education and research
Born in Trebinje, Kovač completed his education at the “Jovan Dučić” Gymnasium and the “Vasa Pavić” Secondary School of Music and Ballet in Podgorica. He graduated with the highest honors from the Department of History at the Faculty of Philosophy in Banja Luka, where he also completed his master’s degree in modern history.
His master’s thesis was awarded a prestigious research prize by the “Slobodan S. Begović” Foundation, presented at the Faculty of Law, University of Belgrade.
Kovač also earned a master’s degree in the methodology of history teaching at the Institute of Education, University College London, and completed his PhD at Sapienza University of Rome, spending a semester at the Sorbonne in Paris.
He has attended numerous international seminars and training sessions in cities such as Berlin, Buchenwald, Péronne, Rome, Trieste, Paris, Versailles, Cannes, Vienna, and Budapest. His academic endeavors have been supported by grants and scholarships from Sapienza University, the British, French, and Russian governments, the American Academy in Rome, the Republika Srpska Representative Office in Vienna, and the Government of Republika Srpska.
Kovač has received numerous accolades, including the Golden Badge of the Cultural and Educational Community of Serbia and the Svetosavska Award. He has been named one of the best educators in the former Yugoslavia and the most innovative teacher in BiH.
Contributions to teaching and history education
Kovač is an external examiner for history in the International Baccalaureate program. He also delivers training for history teachers in Serbia under the program “Teaching about the Genocide Committed Against Serbs,” which holds the status of a program of public interest in Serbia.
Source: See Srpska
