IUS Strengthens Academic Cooperation with Balıkesir University Through Visits of Two Faculty Members
The International University of Sarajevo (IUS) continues to strengthen its international academic partnerships through active cooperation with Balıkesir University (BAUN), one of its valued partner institutions in Turkiye. Reflecting the growing depth of this collaboration, two IUS faculty members – Associate Prof. Dr. Özge Büyükdağlı and Assistant Prof. Dr. Mirza Ljubović – took part in separate academic visits to Balıkesir University, contributing to knowledge exchange, institutional visibility, and the further development of inter-university ties.
As part of this ongoing collaboration, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özge Büyükdağlı, Program Coordinator for Software Engineering (SE) and Artificial Intelligence and Data Engineering (AIDE) at the IUS Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences (FENS), paid an official academic visit to the Computer Engineering Department at Balıkesir University in April 2025. Her visit featured a rich program of activities, including a master class guest lecture, a university-wide seminar on sustainability practices in higher education, faculty meetings, research training sessions, and a visit to Balıkesir Teknokent.
One of the highlights of Dr. Büyükdağlı's visit was her guest lecture delivered within the Computer Engineering master classes, where she presented findings and methodological insights from the Ai4CUAV project - Innovative AI-Framework to Enable the Detection, Classification and Tracking of Killer Drones, funded by NATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS). The lecture addressed AI-driven multi-sensor drone detection, a core research theme of the project, and served simultaneously as a dissemination activity under the project's outreach objectives. It drew notable interest from both students and faculty members, creating a dynamic setting for academic discussion on emerging technologies, research directions, and opportunities for future cooperation. The visit also provided an opportunity for Dr. Büyükdağlı to present the work of the IUS SDG Committee during a university-wide sustainability seminar, where she shared IUS experiences in integrating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into academic, research, and community engagement activities. Through these activities, the visit further highlighted IUS’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and international academic engagement.
In a continuation of these collaborative efforts, Assist. Prof. Dr. Mirza Ljubović paid an academic visit to Balıkesir University from March 30 to April 5, 2026, with the aim of enhancing academic cooperation, supporting knowledge exchange, and deepening mutual institutional understanding. During his stay, Dr. Ljubović participated in a comprehensive program of academic and professional activities, making a valuable contribution to the strengthening of relations between the two universities.
A particularly significant moment of his visit was a lecture delivered to first-year students of the Faculty of Law, during which Dr. Ljubović introduced the International University of Sarajevo and its academic structure. The session was attended by the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Yasan, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Semih Batur Kaya, and Faculty Secretary V. Salim Başaran. The lecture was followed with great interest by the students, reflecting the value of such exchanges in fostering academic dialogue and institutional connectivity. At the end of the program, a certificate ceremony was held, during which the Rector of Balıkesir University, Prof. Dr. Jur. Yücel Oğurlu, presented certificates to the participants in recognition of their successful contribution to the visit.
These visits represent meaningful steps in the continued development of cooperation between IUS and Balıkesir University. By bringing together academic expertise, institutional dialogue, and opportunities for future joint initiatives, both visits reaffirmed the shared commitment of the two universities to further advancing collaboration through academic exchange, joint activities, and stronger inter-institutional partnership.
The International University of Sarajevo extends its sincere appreciation to the leadership, faculty members, and staff of Balıkesir University for their warm hospitality, excellent organization, and openness to cooperation. IUS looks forward to further strengthening this valuable partnership in the period ahead.
