Visit of representatives from Kocaeli University

On May 19, 2025, the University of Zenica had the honor of hosting representatives of Kocaeli University (Republic of Turkey). The welcome was expressed by the Rector of the University of Zenica, Prof. Dr. Jusuf Duraković, and Prof. Dr. Fuad Hadžikadunić, Vice-Rector for Scientific Research of the University of Zenica.

Distinguished guests were professors v. prof. Dr. Kadir Gömbeyaz (Islamic Theology and Theological Fields) and V.Prof. Ph.D. Ali CANGELIC (Turkish Islamic Literature) from the Faculty of Theology, and Mr. Ilhami SEKERD, director of the student center of the IUS campus and Mr. Ozan SANCAKLI, assistant director of the student center.

After a welcoming meeting with the Rector, Prof. Dr. Jusuf Duraković, the discussion continued with a presentation of all directions and areas of activity of the University of Zenica, with an emphasis on the tradition of higher education in BiH and the Zenica-Doboj Canton. All faculties of the University of Zenica were presented, with a special emphasis on the areas they deal with, the Kemal Kapetanović Institute with its centers, as well as the Student Center.

The guests were also informed about student education opportunities, study programs of all three study cycles, scientific research capacities, and the traditionally good cooperation of our university with the economy and public institutions.

In the field of education, the desire for student exchange, student and professor mobility from both universities was emphasized. The developed internationalization of our university through the IRO office, cooperation with many world and European universities, and the desire for cooperation between the University of Zenica and Kocaeli University through ERASMUS+ and other programs were emphasized. In the area of possible cooperation in the field of scientific research activities, the possibility of joint participation in potential international or national projects was expressed, as well as the possibility of using the research capacities of both universities through joint cooperation of professors. In addition, joint participation with papers and in co-organization, as well as scientific and review boards at conferences and journals, in all fields, was emphasized.

On this occasion, the guests presented the significant capacities of Kocaeli University with respectable areas and results of work, areas of education and research. The university has 20 departments and 8000 students. Otherwise, the Kocaeli region is very industrially developed. The guests' great desire for all the above-mentioned opportunities for cooperation was supported and expressed. The guests were particularly interested in cooperation in the fields of Islamic Theological Sciences and Turkish Language.

It was V.Prof. Dr. Kadir, as the ERASMUS+ coordinator of Kocaeli University, who emphasized that opportunities for the mobility of professors and students will be further developed in coordination with our IRO.