Balkan Universities Network

The Balkan Universities Network or BUN in its present form was created after the end of the SFR Yugoslavia, the founding of new universities, and the implementation of the Bologna Process in Balkan Universities. The aim of the network is the exchange of know how and experience in research and education, mutual acceptance of certificates, encouragement of professors and students for more mobility between the universities and the use of support programs for student exchange.^[1] Besides bilateral meetings, conferences rotating between the member universities take place. The 2010 conference was organized by the Trakya University in Edirne in May 2010.^[2]

Board of Directors and Keynote Speakers

• Rector Enver Duran Trakya University Edirne (Turkey), President
• Dean Hilmi Ibar Trakya University Edirne (Turkey), Vice-President
• Rector Faruk Čaklovica University of Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Member
• Rector Dhori Kule University of Tirana (Albania), Member
• Rector Ioannis P Gerothanassis, University Ioannina (Greece), Member
• Rector Anelia Klissarova, Varna Medical University (Bulgaria), Member

Members

Country	Institution(s)
Albania	University of Tirana University of Medicine, Tirana Epoka University Eqerem Çabej University University of Korça Luigj Gurakuqi University Vitrina University
Bosnia and Herzegovina	University of Sarajevo University of Mostar University of Tuzla University of Zenica
Bulgaria	American University in Bulgaria University of Sofia Burgas Free University[3] St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo State University of Library Studies and Information Technologies Technical University of Varna Technical University of Gabrovo Medical University of Varna University of Shumen Episkop Konstantin Preslavski University of Food Technologies[4] Varna Free University[5]
Croatia	University of Zagreb University of Zadar Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek Juraj Dobrila University of Pula University of Dubrovnik University of Rijeka University of Split
Cyprus	European University of Lefke
Greece	Aristotle University of Thessaloniki University of Macedonia University of Ioannina Democritus University of Thrace University of Thessaly
Kosovo^[a]	Iliria Royal University[6]
Macedonia	FON University Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje State University of Tetovo International Balkan University St. Clement of Ohrid University of Bitola South East European University
Moldova	Comrat State University
Montenegro	University "Mediterranean" University of Montenegro
Romania	Babeş-Bolyai University
Serbia	University of Belgrade University of Arts in Belgrade University of Novi Sad University of Priština University of Kragujevac
Turkey	Trakya University Dokuz Eylül University Galatasaray University University of Istanbul Namik Kemal University Fırat University Süleyman Demirel University Atatürk University Bozok University[7] Kirklareli University[8] Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University

Guest members

• Baku State University
• Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University Loerrach
• University of Graz

Further reading

• Enver Duran: Challenges of Higher Education Institutions in the Balkans, III Balkan Universities Network Meeting, Trakya Universität Edirne Mai 2010, ISBN 978-975-374-134-7
• Manfred G. Raupp: Lörrach Symposium - Lörrach Sempozyumu, Trakya Universität Edirne Mai 2011, ISBN 978-3-942298-02-5

Notes and references

Notes:

a.

^ Kosovo is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Serbia. The Republic of Kosovo unilaterally declared independence on 17 February 2008, but Serbia continues to claim it as part of its own sovereign territory. The two governments began to normalise relations in 2013, as part of the Brussels Agreement. Kosovo has received recognition as an independent state from 110 out of 193 United Nations member states.

References:

1. Protocole for the Balkan Universities Network
2. Balkan Spring Education Conference at Edirne May 2010
3. "Бургаски свободен университет". Retrieved 14 May 2015.
4. "Университет по хранителни технологии УХТ - гр.Пловдив - University of food technologies UFT - Plovdiv, Bulgaria". Retrieved 14 May 2015.
5. "Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar"". www.vfu.bg/en/. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
6. "Kolegji ILIRIA". Retrieved 14 May 2015.
7. Tarık TANRIVERDİ. "Bozok Üniversitesi". Retrieved 14 May 2015.
8. Kırklareli Üniversitesi Bilgi İşlem Daire Başkanlığı. "KLU - T.C. KIRKLARELİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ". Retrieved 14 May 2015.