Di Lan Edu WB

Hybrid Classroom at the University of Banja Luka: A Milestone in Digital Transformation of Higher Education

The Hybrid Classroom at the Faculty of Philosophy, UNIBL, represents a significant milestone in the institution’s ongoing efforts toward digital transformation and the modernization of higher education teaching practices. Its establishment and early use can be traced through a series of coordinated academic and institutional activities implemented within the framework of Erasmus+ projects DilanEdu-WB.

The first major public event marking the introduction of this innovative learning space took place on 31 March 2026, when the Hybrid Classroom was officially opened at the Faculty of Philosophy. The opening ceremony also included a student-led workshop titled “Application of Digital Tools in Learning,” delivered by students Ernad Lepir and Tatjana Todorović from the Study Program in Business Informatics at the Faculty of Economics. UNIBL. This workshop demonstrated the pedagogical potential of the new facility by actively engaging students of Study Program for Preschool Education and Study Program for Elementary School Education, in the use of digital tools for learning and collaboration. The Hybrid Classroom was presented as a technologically enhanced environment designed to support simultaneous in-person and online teaching in two and more learning environments, thereby enabling flexible learning pathways, improved accessibility, and increased international collaboration.

A subsequent institutional visit further confirmed the strategic importance of the newly established learning space. On 28 April 2026, the Rector of the University of Banja Luka, prof. dr Radoslav Gajanin, together with the Vice-Rector for Human and Material Resources, prof. dr Dalibor Kesić, visited the Hybrid Classroom at the Faculty of Philosophy. During the visit, the classroom was presented as a key component of the University’s broader digital transformation agenda. The Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy, prof. dr Srđan Dušanić, emphasized that the initiative reflects a commitment to digital transformation and sustained institutional orientation towards the modernization of teaching, integrating the digital technologies into academic practice.

Prof. dr Tamara Pribišev Beleslin introduced the functional and pedagogical features of the Hybrid Classroom, highlighting its capacity to support contemporary hybrid and blended learning models that integrate physical and virtual learning environments. She emphasized that such approaches represent an important developmental direction in university pedagogy and language study in early childhood, characterized by increased flexibility, accessibility, and the potential for individualized learning trajectories.

The establishment of the Hybrid Classroom was preceded by a comprehensive refurbishment and adaptation process of the existing teaching space, undertaken to ensure full alignment with institutional capacities, existing infrastructure, and project guidelines. Following an assessment of the current infrastructure and technical requirements for digital transformation, the classroom was carefully redesigned and upgraded to support hybrid and digitally enhanced teaching formats. This process included architectural adaptation of the space, upgrading of electrical installations and Wi-Fi infrastructure, and ensuring compliance with technical requirements for the installation of IT equipment and stable internet connectivity. Particular attention was given to didactic principles of higher education, enabling the creation of a flexible learning environment suitable for both individual and collaborative work. The adaptation of Classroom 316 into a fully functional Hybrid Classroom was carried out between August and September 2026, with the classroom design developed by prof. dr Diana Stupar, Head of the Department of Architectural Design at the Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, UNIBL.

Taken together, these activities demonstrate a coherent and progressive institutional effort to embed digital innovation into higher education practice. The establishment and operationalization of the Hybrid Classroom confirm the University of Banja Luka’s commitment to aligning with contemporary European educational trends and to actively contributing to the development of innovative, technology-enhanced teaching and learning models for future teachers.

📢 We are pleased to present the third edition of the DiLanEdu-WB Newsletter!

In this issue, you will find an overview of the project's latest activities, key achievements within the DiLanEdu-WB project.

The newsletter highlights the project's progress, the collaboration among partner institutions, and initiatives aimed at advancing digital learning and higher education across the Western Balkans.

📖 We invite you to explore the third edition and stay up to date with our latest project developments.

DiLanEdu Study Visit 2026, Magdeburg - Day 2:
The second day of the DiLanEdu Study Visit at Otto von Guericke
University Magdeburg focused on two interactive workshops addressing key
topics in Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence and Large Language
Models.

The first session, led by Het Darshan Mehta, introduced participants to
the concept of unconscious bias in Human-Centred AI. Through an
interactive bias user study, participants experienced how cognitive
biases can influence perception and decision-making. The workshop then
presented the UXQB (User Experience Questionnaire for Bias) guidelines
and demonstrated how to design and implement reliable user studies using
SoSci Survey and Google Forms. The session concluded with a hands-on
group activity in which participants created their own bias-related
surveys and applied the presented methods to realistic research and
educational scenarios.

The second workshop, delivered by Lorenzo Zangari (Lausanne,
Switzerland), provided a comprehensive introduction to Large Language
Models (LLMs) and Prompt Engineering. Participants learned about the
complete lifecycle of LLMs, including pre-training, mid-training, and
post-training through instruction fine-tuning and reinforcement learning
from human feedback. The session also explored the principles of
effective prompt engineering, covering prompt structure, in-context
learning strategies, reasoning techniques, and iterative prompt
refinement. During the practical hands-on session, participants worked
with locally executable open-weight language models, experimented with
different sampling parameters and prompting techniques, and gained
practical experience in using privacy-preserving and reproducible AI
solutions.

DiLanEdu-WB Study Visit 2026, Magdeburg - Day 2

The second day of the DiLanEdu Study Visit at Otto von Guericke
University Magdeburg focused on two interactive workshops addressing key
topics in Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence and Large Language
Models.

The first session, led by Het Darshan Mehta, introduced participants to
the concept of unconscious bias in Human-Centred AI. Through an
interactive bias user study, participants experienced how cognitive
biases can influence perception and decision-making. The workshop then
presented the UXQB (User Experience Questionnaire for Bias) guidelines
and demonstrated how to design and implement reliable user studies using
SoSci Survey and Google Forms. The session concluded with a hands-on
group activity in which participants created their own bias-related
surveys and applied the presented methods to realistic research and
educational scenarios.

The second workshop, delivered by Lorenzo Zangari (Lausanne,
Switzerland), provided a comprehensive introduction to Large Language
Models (LLMs) and Prompt Engineering. Participants learned about the
complete lifecycle of LLMs, including pre-training, mid-training, and
post-training through instruction fine-tuning and reinforcement learning
from human feedback. The session also explored the principles of
effective prompt engineering, covering prompt structure, in-context
learning strategies, reasoning techniques, and iterative prompt
refinement. During the practical hands-on session, participants worked
with locally executable open-weight language models, experimented with
different sampling parameters and prompting techniques, and gained
practical experience in using privacy-preserving and reproducible AI
solutions.

DiLanEdu Study Visit 2026, Magdeburg
Day 1

The first day of the DiLanEdu Study Visit at Otto von Guericke
University Magdeburg began with a warm welcome by Prof. Ernesto W. De
Luca, who introduced the participants to the university, the
Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence (HCAI) research group, and the
current Innovation Xperience project. His presentation provided an
overview of the university’s research activities and highlighted the
role of innovation, digital transformation, and interdisciplinary
collaboration in higher education.

Following the introduction, Prof. De Luca delivered a training session
on Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence and Human-Centred Design within
the framework of the DiLanEdu project. The session emphasized that AI
should not only automate processes but also empower users, respect human
needs, and ensure meaningful human control. Participants were introduced
to the main stages of the Human-Centred Design process, from
understanding user needs and defining requirements to designing and
evaluating solutions. A particular focus was placed on participatory
prototyping, where teachers actively contributed to identifying
educational challenges, developing ideas for AI-supported learning
tools, and creating initial design concepts through collaborative
discussions and group work.

In the afternoon, Dr. Julian Marvin Jörs, Postdoctoral Researcher in the
Human-Centred Design and Human-Centred AI research group at Otto von
Guericke University Magdeburg, conducted an interactive workshop on
Immersive Learning Environments and Gamification. The workshop combined
theoretical input with practical activities, enabling participants to
build a small AI-supported web application while exploring the use of artificial intelligence in web-based and immersive learning
environments. In addition, the workshop introduced key principles of designing engaging and effective digital learning environments and demonstrated how gamification can enhance learner motivation and educational outcomes.

The first day concluded with lively discussions and hands-on activities, providing participants with valuable insights into human-centred AI, innovative educational technologies, and practical approaches for integrating AI into teaching and learning.

🎓 DiLandEdu Study Visit 2026 | Magdeburg

The Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence (HCAI) Research Group at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg is pleased to host the DiLandEdu Study Visit 2026.
Over two days, participants from partner universities will engage in expert-led sessions on: • Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence • Ethical AI • Fairness & Bias • Large Language Models • Prompt Engineering • Digital Education & Wellbeing

📅 9–10 July 2026 📍 Experimentelle Fabrik Magdeburg

We look forward to welcoming our DiLandEdu partners and fostering meaningful collaboration in AI, education, and innovation.

Participation and presentation of a research paper at the international scientific conference in Tirana

As part of the International Scientific Conference “The Role of Psycho Social Services in Early Childhood Education”, held on 22-23 May 2026 in Tirana and organized by Kolegji Universitar Logos, I had the opportunity to participate as a co-author together with Prof. Assoc. Dr. Arlinda Beka and present the paper entitled “Pedagogical Documentation as a Tool for Understanding the Learning Process in Children According to the Reggio Emilia Approach”.

This experience represented a very important step for me both academically and professionally. The conference provided me with the opportunity to share our research work, listen to presentations and experiences from researchers and professionals in the field, and become part of discussions related to early childhood education.

A particularly meaningful aspect of this experience was that it was my first time presenting at an international scientific conference. This experience strengthened my confidence and further motivated me to continue engaging in research, professional development, and future academic activities.

Leira Musliu Faculty of Education
University of Prishtina

My experience with the DiLanEdu-WB trainings

Participating in the DiLanEdu-WB project trainings was a highly valuable experience for my professional development and for advancing my teaching practices. Through these trainings, I had the opportunity to learn how to use new digital platforms and tools, which have helped me organize and implement the teaching process more effectively.

Some of the activities and methods practiced during the training have also been applied in my teaching, particularly during grammar classes. These approaches have helped not only in explaining more complex topics more easily, but also in creating a more interactive and contemporary learning environment for students. In addition, I had the opportunity to further develop the course syllabus, making it more attractive and more content-rich for students.

The training also created opportunities for collaboration, exchange of experiences, and closer communication among colleagues, students, and professors. For me, this experience was a reminder that learning is a lifelong process and that the integration of technology in education is an important step toward developing a more qualitative and modern educational system.

Overall, the DiLanEdu-WB trainings have had a positive impact on my professional development, motivating me to continue applying innovative methods and new technologies in the teaching process.

Leonore Husaj
Faculty of Education, University of Prishtina