IBU International Relations Office

Dear International Balkan University (IBU) Students

The Call for Erasmus+ Mobility for Studies is now OPEN! 🎉

📅 Deadline: 26 October 2024

✅ Here's what you need to do:
- Log into your Hello! account
- Click on the "Open Calls: International Relations Office" box
- Click on "Apply"
- Read everything carefully (both in these images and the call)
- Select your Host University
- Share with us why you chose them
- If you qualify for additional support under the four 'fewer opportunities' categories listed in the second picture make sure to let us know
- Submit your application

Remember, if you applied successfully, you won't be able to apply again. So, please double-check after you're done 😊

Your Erasmus+ adventure awaits! 🌍✈️📚

Dear International Balkan University (IBU) Students

The Call for Erasmus+ Mobility for Studies is now OPEN! 🎉

📅 Deadline: 25 April 2024

✅ Here's what you need to do:

- Log into your Hello! account
- Find the "Open Calls: International Relations Office" button
- Click on "Apply"
- Read everything carefully (both in these images and the call)
- Select your Host University
- Share with us why you chose them
- If you qualify for additional support under the four 'fewer opportunities' categories make sure to let us know
- Submit your application

Remember, if you applied successfully, you won't be able to apply again. So, please double-check after you're done 😊

Your Erasmus+ adventure awaits! 🌍✈️📚

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2024 to all our partners, colleagues and peers! 🎅🏼🎄🔔

ISW’23 DAY 2: Promo Presentations, Teaching Activities, and Individual Meetings 💻 🤝 👩‍🏫

The second day of the IBU Erasmus+ International Staff Week started with Promo Presentations and Videos from the participants in two panels, where representatives from Lithuania 🇱🇹, Turkiye 🇹🇷, Serbia 🇷🇸 and Bulgaria 🇧🇬 had the chance to promote their universities in front of other guests and IBU staff.
In the afternoon, parallel teaching sessions of the participants of ISW2023 were held in the field of economics💰and education 📚, while several individual meetings were held with academic staff from the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Education and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, as well as administrative units, including the Media Center, IT Unit, and the General Secretariat.



International Balkan University (IBU)

THE 5TH INTERNATIONAL STAFF WEEK SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED AT THE IBU CAMPUS

On 27 November 2023, the IBU International Relations Office successfully launched the 5th International Staff Week at the IBU Campus. The Opening Ceremony was attended by 24 international guests, from 14 Erasmus+ partner universities from a total of 5 countries: Bulgaria, Lithuania, Poland, Serbia, and Türkiye.

The international academic and administrative staff were welcomed by the IBU Rector, Prof. Dr. Lutfi Sunar, and the Vice-Rector and Erasmus+ Institutional Coordinator, Prof. Dr. Snezana Bilic. The opening ceremony continued with an IBU Promotional Video prepared by the Media Center and an IBU Presentation by Ms. Dukica Pavlovikj, Head of the International Relations Office.

Our guests also had the opportunity to attend a variety of social activities, including an IBU Campus Tour, Networking with International Food prepared by our Erasmus+ Incoming Students and IBU Student Mentors, and a tour of the capital city of Skopje.

We wish all participants a warm welcome and a fruitful teaching and training week at the IBU Campus!



IBU International Relations Office

ERASMUS+ STUDENT EXCHANGE – CONNECTING HORIZONS: ERASMUS IN SKOPJE, THE BALKAN BRIDGE 🇱🇻🇲🇰

In a transformative Erasmus+ study mobility semester at International Balkan University, Ričards Edijs Štibe, a student from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences in Latvia, embarked on an eye-opening exploration of Skopje, North Macedonia. Motivated by an arts lecture challenging Western perceptions of the Balkans, Štibe found himself immersed in a cultural tapestry that defied expectations.

Navigating the vibrant Macedonian lifestyle as an introvert posed challenges, but the warmth of the people, the simplicity of interactions, and the lively cultural scene left an indelible mark on his experience. Ričards also informed us that “To be an introvert in such a sunny country is certainly not an easy task. People go out for a coffee or tea at any time of the day, they value personal relationships and contacts more than tangible things, their simplicity made me stop and rethink what have I just experienced more than once”. Štibe's journey extended beyond the classroom, as he formed enduring friendships with fellow Erasmus+ students. Hiking in Vodno mountain, paragliding over Skopje, and embracing the local culture became cherished memories, highlighting the transformative power of cultural exchange.

As the semester drew to a close, Štibe reflected on the landmarks that defined his Skopje experience. Beyond the superficial Skopje2014 buildings, his Skopje was a nuanced blend of the train station's inclusivity, the cultural richness of the National Opera and Ballet, the heritage preserved at the National Gallery of Art, and the natural beauty of Vodno mountain with the Millennium Cross. Štibe's advice to future Erasmus+ seekers echoes with enthusiasm: embrace challenges, savor experiences, and let the people of Skopje weave an unforgettable chapter into your academic journey.



International Balkan University (IBU)
Ventspils Augstskola