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The Institute for National and International Security (INIS) received major academic and international recognition at an official ceremony at the “Apeiron” University of Public and Individual Security in Krakow, Republic of Poland.
The central focus of the ceremony was the awarding of honorary doctorates (PhD honoris causa) to five distinguished members and associates of INIS, and during the same ceremony, Prof. Dr. Darko Trifunović was officially appointed as Visiting Professor at Apeiron University.
By decision of the Senate of the University, the honorary doctorates (PhD honoris causa) were awarded to:
- Prof. Dr. John M. Nomikos
- Prof. Dr. Bronislav Kovacik
- Prof. Dr. Nikola Dujovski
- Prof. Dr. Marco Lombardi
- Prof. Dr. Vasko Stamevski
All five laureates are internationally respected experts who have dedicated their professional and academic careers to promoting and developing Security Science and Security Culture at both national and international levels.
The ceremony marked an important academic milestone for INIS, as five members and associates of the Institute received prestigious international academic recognitions at a single event, significantly strengthening INIS’s international academic visibility and credibility within the wider Security Science community.
At the same ceremony, Prof. Dr. Darko Trifunović was officially nominated as Visiting Professor at the “Apeiron” University of Public and Individual Security in Krakow.
This appointment represented not only an important personal academic recognition, but also a confirmation of the growing international cooperation in Security Science, intelligence studies, and strategic research among Serbia, Poland, and the broader European academic-security community.
The nomination carried additional significance because Prof. Dr. Trifunović had already been awarded the title of Honorary Professor at the same University two years earlier. His new appointment therefore represents a continuation of long-standing academic cooperation, mutual trust, and professional respect developed with distinguished colleagues from Poland and other international partner institutions.
An especially important moment of the ceremony was that Rector Prof. Dr. Juliusz Piwowarski, together with another distinguished professor from the University and Prof. Dr. Darko Trifunović, formed the academic commission responsible for awarding the honorary doctorates (PhD honoris causa), which represented a significant professional honor and responsibility.
According to the official nomination document issued in Krakow on 7 May 2026, the decision regarding the appointment of Prof. Dr. Darko Trifunović was adopted pursuant to Article 23(2), Article 34(1)(6) and (7) of the Law on Higher Education and Science, as well as §§ 5 and 71a(3) of the Statute of the University of Public and Individual Security “Apeiron” in Krakow.
These recognitions also underscored the growing importance of international academic-security cooperation among Central Europe, the Balkans, the Mediterranean region, and the broader global Security Science community.
Apeiron University and the Krakow Security Forum remain among the leading international platforms for the development of contemporary Security Science, bringing together scholars, military professionals, intelligence experts, and strategic thinkers from around the world.
Kraków, May 2026.
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The Institute for National and International Security (INIS) received major academic and international recognition at an official ceremony at the “Apeiron” University of Public and Individual Security in Krakow, Republic of Poland.
The central focus of the ceremony was the awarding of honorary doctorates (PhD honoris causa) to five distinguished members and associates of INIS, and during the same ceremony, Prof. Dr. Darko Trifunović was officially appointed as Visiting Professor at Apeiron University.
By decision of the Senate of the University, the honorary doctorates (PhD honoris causa) were awarded to:
- Prof. Dr. John M. Nomikos
- Prof. Dr. Bronislav Kovacik
- Prof. Dr. Nikola Dujovski
- Prof. Dr. Marco Lombardi
- Prof. Dr. Vasko Stamevski
All five laureates are internationally respected experts who have dedicated their professional and academic careers to promoting and developing Security Science and Security Culture at both national and international levels.
The ceremony marked an important academic milestone for INIS, as five members and associates of the Institute received prestigious international academic recognitions at a single event, significantly strengthening INIS’s international academic visibility and credibility within the wider Security Science community.
At the same ceremony, Prof. Dr. Darko Trifunović was officially nominated as Visiting Professor at the “Apeiron” University of Public and Individual Security in Krakow.
This appointment represented not only an important personal academic recognition, but also a confirmation of the growing international cooperation in Security Science, intelligence studies, and strategic research among Serbia, Poland, and the broader European academic-security community.
The nomination carried additional significance because Prof. Dr. Trifunović had already been awarded the title of Honorary Professor at the same University two years earlier. His new appointment therefore represents a continuation of long-standing academic cooperation, mutual trust, and professional respect developed with distinguished colleagues from Poland and other international partner institutions.
An especially important moment of the ceremony was that Rector Prof. Dr. Juliusz Piwowarski, together with another distinguished professor from the University and Prof. Dr. Darko Trifunović, formed the academic commission responsible for awarding the honorary doctorates (PhD honoris causa), which represented a significant professional honor and responsibility.
According to the official nomination document issued in Krakow on 7 May 2026, the decision regarding the appointment of Prof. Dr. Darko Trifunović was adopted pursuant to Article 23(2), Article 34(1)(6) and (7) of the Law on Higher Education and Science, as well as §§ 5 and 71a(3) of the Statute of the University of Public and Individual Security “Apeiron” in Krakow.
These recognitions also underscored the growing importance of international academic-security cooperation among Central Europe, the Balkans, the Mediterranean region, and the broader global Security Science community.
Apeiron University and the Krakow Security Forum remain among the leading international platforms for the development of contemporary Security Science, bringing together scholars, military professionals, intelligence experts, and strategic thinkers from around the world.
Kraków, May 2026.
