The University of Banja Luka (, , , ) is the second-oldest university in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A public university, it is the flagship institution of higher education in Republika Srpska, one of two entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As of 2018–19 school year, there are 11,186 enrolled students. The university grew out of faculties established in Banja Luka after the end of the World War II either as independent schools or branches of the University of Sarajevo. The University of Banja Luka maintains close ties with educational institutions in neighboring countries of the former Yugoslavia, especially those in the Republic of Serbia. The QS World University Rankings placed the University of Banja Luka in the 251–300 range in the Emerging Europe and Central Asia in 2019. In 2018, Webometrics Ranking of World Universities ranked it as the Bosnia’s second best university among the 59 ranked institutions of tertiary education from the country. In the 2015 fiscal year, the Government of Republika Srpska ensured 34,897,600 BAMs for the university's budget constituting its primary source of funding for standard running costs. History Post-World War II years The first Pedagogical School in Banja Luka was established in 1950 when it enrolled its first 38 students. The Faculty of Technical Studies was established in 1961 and the Faculty of Economics in 1969. Subsequently University of Sarajevo faculties of engineering, law and economics opened their local branches in Banja Luka. Over the period of four years each local branch in Banja Luka was transformed into independent faculty in its own right. 1975–1992 The University of Banja Luka was established on 7 November 1975 as the second university established in the Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 1970's were the years of expansion of higher education in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during which along the one in Banja Luka modern day University of Montenegro, University of Kragujevac, University of Rijeka, University of Split, University of Maribor, University of Osijek, St. Clement of Ohrid University of Bitola, University of Tuzla and University of Mostar were all established. In its early years the university was faced with lack of academic and administrative staff and their inadequate academic qualifications. University inaugurated its first five-year development plan in 1976. The plan highlighted priorities of construction of dormitories, student scholarships provisions, expansion and strengthening of the Central Youth Cooperative, construction of sports and recreation center, student clinics and