A SIGNIFICANT STEP on the INTERNATIONAL STAGE: ISTANBUL TICARET UNIVERSITY in ZAGREB
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The Exchange Programmes Coordination Office at Istanbul Ticaret University represented our university at the “International Week 2026” event held in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. The programme, attended by Dr. Elif Nuray Yıldırım and Specialist Asena Leblebici, addressed interdisciplinary approaches and opportunities for international collaboration, whilst establishing key contacts for new academic partnerships.
Istanbul Ticaret University played an active role on the international stage regarding the future of higher education by participating in the “International Week 2026: Interdisciplinarity by Design – Building the Future University” event, hosted by Algebra Bernays University between 16–20 March 2026. Representing our university, Dr Elif Nuray Yıldırım, Coordinator of Exchange Programmes, and Specialist Asena Leblebici took part in the programme, where interdisciplinary approaches and international collaborations were examined from multiple perspectives.
INTERNATIONAL OPENING AND STRATEGIC PERSPECTIVES
The opening of the programme featured speeches by Lidija Šimrak, Coordinator of the International Office at Algebra Bernays University; Prof. Dr. Damir Jugo, Chair of the Board of Trustees; and Rector Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mislav Balković. Speaking at the opening session, Vice-Rector for Research Programmes Prof. Dr. Leo Mršić presented a comprehensive assessment of the role of interdisciplinarity in the transformation of higher education institutions.
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION
On the second day of the event, a workshop moderated by Assoc. Prof. Dr Marko Kovačić addressed methods for developing interdisciplinary projects within the framework of European Union policies and funding programmes. Lecturers Klara Volarić and Petra Cuculić Malenica presented pedagogical approaches to the digital student profile through case studies, whilst Lecturer Ana Lokas Ćošković highlighted the potential of interdisciplinarity to generate innovation and social impact in education.
During the interactive workshops organised as part of the programme, participants strengthened inter-institutional collaboration and network formation by developing joint projects. In this context, our Exchange Programmes Coordinator, Dr Elif Nuray Yıldırım, delivered a presentation on the integration of international students, whilst our Erasmus expert, Asena Leblebici, shared a project presentation on young people’s democratic participation with the participants.
EXPERIENCE SHARING AND INSTITUTIONAL OUTCOMES
During the panel held on the third day of the event, Prof. Dr. Damir Jugo and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mislav Balković, moderated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Marko Kovačić, evaluated universities’ field experiences in interdisciplinary applications, the bureaucratic obstacles encountered, and proposed solutions. On the same day, during the “Algebra LAB” presentation delivered by Dr Maja Brkljačić, the processes of transforming scientific projects into tangible outputs were examined through practical examples. The event, which brought together representatives from 19 universities across 15 countries, provided an important platform for sharing insights on interdisciplinary approaches and internationalisation strategies in higher education. Universities from Croatia, Germany, Poland, Finland and Slovenia had the opportunity to compare different higher education systems and examine examples of best practice.
INTERNATIONAL MOBILITY AND PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES
On the fourth day of the programme, the focus was on student mobility and administrative processes. Whilst experiences regarding Erasmus processes were shared, the exchange of information was reinforced through question-and-answer sessions.
During the International Mobility Fair held in the second half of the day, Dr Elif Nuray Yıldırım and Specialist Asena Leblebici conducted meetings with prospective international students and institutional representatives. In this context, our university reached an agreement on potential collaborations with 19 universities across 12 different departments. Throughout the fair, the academic opportunities offered by our university were introduced to both students interested in exchange programmes and prospective students wishing to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate studies.
EVALUATION AND NEW COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITIES
During the evaluation meeting held on the final day of the programme, the academic and administrative achievements gained throughout the week were discussed in detail. The event concluded with the presentation of certificates to the participants.
Istanbul Ticaret University’s participation in the event not only strengthened its existing strategic partnerships in line with the university’s internationalisation objectives but also made a significant contribution to the development of new collaboration opportunities within the European higher education sector.
