Associate Professor
Scientific Field: Special Physical Education
Office: 128
Email: darko.paspalj@fbn.unibl.org
Phone: 051/333-618
Courses:
- Sports Skills in Security
- Special Physical Education I
- Special Physical Education II
- Special Physical Education III
Biography:
Born on June 6, 1964, in Glina, SR Croatia, where he finished elementary school and the first two years of general secondary education. He completed the third and fourth years of high school (sports gymnasium track) at the Pedagogical Educational Center “Bogdan Ogrizović” in Zagreb.
He graduated in 1989 from the Faculty of Physical Culture in Zagreb, defending his thesis on “The Influence of Coordination on the Efficiency of Judo Combat in Standing Position,” thereby acquiring the title of Professor of Physical Culture and Graduate Judo Coach. He obtained his Master’s degree in 2008 at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, University of Banja Luka, with the thesis “The Influence of Basic Motor Abilities on the Efficiency of Throwing Techniques from the Special Physical Education Program,” acquiring the title of Master of Science in Physical Culture. He obtained his PhD in 2011 at the same Faculty, defending the dissertation “Morphological Characteristics and Psychomotor Abilities of Students of the College of Internal Affairs in the Function of Solving Problem Situations,” acquiring the title of Doctor of Science in Physical Culture.
He was elected to the title of Assistant Professor (Docent) by the University of Banja Luka in 2017, and to the title of Associate Professor in the scientific field of Special Physical Education in 2021.
Professional Career:
1990–1991: Physical Education teacher at the “Bratstvo i jedinstvo” Elementary School in Vrnograč (Velika Kladuša). War Service: During the defensive-patriotic war, he worked as an operative for general crime suppression at SUP Glina and as an Intelligence and Security Officer in the 24th Infantry Brigade in Glina, Republic of Serbian Krajina. In 1995, as a reserve military officer, he was promoted to the rank of Captain First Class of the Army of the Republic of Serbian Krajina. Ministry of Interior (MUP RS): From 1996 to 2017. Within the Personnel Education Center (1996–1999), he worked as a Self-Defense and Special Physical Education teacher at the Secondary School of Internal Affairs. From 1999 to 2008, within the Police Training Administration at the Police Academy, he served as a Special Physical Education teacher, Assistant Director for Basic Training, and Instructor Coordinator of Practical Teaching (Class Chief). In 2007, he passed the exam for the rank of Independent Inspector. Training and Instruction: In addition to regular classes, he conducted training courses for general jurisdiction police, judicial police, municipal police, private security personnel, and prison guards in Republika Srpska.
Higher Education: Worked at the College of Internal Affairs (VŠUP) from 2008 to 2017 as an Associate and Professor of Special Physical Education. He has been working at the Faculty of Security Sciences since 2017, where he taught various Special Physical Education courses and served as Vice-Dean for Academic Affairs. He was also engaged at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, University of Banja Luka, teaching Combat Sports.
Scientific Work and Sports: He has published over forty scientific and professional papers, and authored or co-authored one monograph, two practicums, and three textbooks on Special Physical Education. He has completed over 20 seminars in the field of police work and the use of force. He participated in numerous international congresses and projects, including “Conflict Resolution” (Swedish National Police Academy) and the Erasmus+ “Nat Risk” project. He also worked as a coach in Judo clubs “Policajac” and “Krajina” (Banja Luka) and swimming clubs, winning multiple medals at republic and international competitions. He was a member of the expert committee of the Swimming Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He holds Master ranks in Judo and Ju-Jutsu. He is married and a father of one.
