This month IUS Newsletter is marking its 10th edition and Editorial Board is more than happy to see that the Newsletter is growing and improving each time more and more. The latest issue of our University’s publica-tion brings you information on many student and academic activities that took part dur-ing the month of December such as public lectures, visits, different student activities, etc. Also, IUS Student Council elected new president - Mr. Fuat Keleşoğlu from Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, and Editorial Board uses this opportunity to ex-tend its greetings to Mr. Keleşoğlu wishing him lot of success in the future.

As always, Editorial Board invites all those interested to take an active part in creating IUS Newsletter, by sending us your com-ments and suggestions, as well as, pro-viding us with interesting news. Therefore, please do not hesitate to contact us and express your views at: newsletter@ius.edu.ba.

A Message from the Editorial Board:

Visit by Former Turkish Minister for Energy and Natural Resources

IUS-the biggest foundation University in Bosnia-Herzegovina

Former Turkish Minister for Energy and Natural Resources, Dr. Mehmet Himi Güler, together with Turkish businessmen, Dr. Akkan Suver, from the Marmara Group Foundation and Mr. Orhan Erdem from the Bureau of Gnat visited our University on December 24, 2009. Distinguished guests were welcomed in the Rector’s Office by the Rector B. Gültekin Çetiner, member of the Executive Board of the Foundation for Education Development Sarajevo, Mr. Alija Rizvanbegović, and Acting Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali Güneş. There guests were introduced to the vision and mission of the University.

After the meeting guests and their hosts proceeded to the Confer-ence Hall where Dr. Güler gave a speech to students and staff. Dr. Güler’s speech touched many of the current topics from the areas of energy and economy.

Dinner at the Residence of Malaysian Ambassador

Second VACD Film & Video Festival

Public Lecture :“Islam in the European Union”

Graphic Design SupervisorZinka Bejtic

Graphic DesignRumeysa Temiz

Desktop Publishing

Abdulhamid Bolat

Advisory Editorial Board

Prof. Dr. B.Gültekin Çetiner

Prof. Dr. Mehmet Can

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali Gunes

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cevat Sarioglu

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhamed Hadziabdic

Mr. Idris Esen

Editor Ms. Aida Sunje

Associate Editor Mr. Ahmed Kulanic

CoordinatorDr. Muhidin Mulalic

Redactor Dr. Mustafa Bal

INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SARAJEVOParomlinska 66, 71000 Sarajevo,Tel : +387 33 720 600 Fax: +387 33 720 625 newsletter@ius.edu.ba www.ius.edu.ba

10th Edition - December 2009

“Layla and Mecnun: A Study of Love and Affliction”: A Public Lecture by English Language and Literature Program

Students’ Voluntary Work for IUS Library

In order to enhance the relationship and develop academic and cultural relations between the Transcultural Psychosocial Educational Foundation (TPO) and Inter-national University of Sarajevo, representatives of these two institutions, the Rec-tor Prof. Dr. B. Gültekin Çetiner and Dr. Zilka Spahić-Šiljak signed a cooperation agreement on December 15, 2009.

The areas of cooperation covered by the agreement include education, research and other activities related to human rights, democracy, gender equality, intercul-tural dialogue and peace-building.

Around twenty students spent their Saturday, December 5, 2009, volunteering in keying-in refer-

ence books in the library database system. As the Library Manager, Mr. Amir Omerović, said that

„the main aim of this activity was to enter book information into IUS library database system.“ Mr.

Omerović also used this opportunity to show his appreciation and thank students who participated

in this activity.

IUS and TPO Partnership

English Language and Literature Program, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences organized a second public lecture in the same month on December 21, 2009. The lecture was titled „Layla and Mecnun: A Study of Love and Affliction“ and was delivered by Mrs. Caroline Tee, a researcher from Bris-tol University in the United Kingdom.

The lecture was opened by Dr. Mustafa Bal, English Lan-guage and Literature Program Coordinator, who introduced the speaker and her works to the participants. Mrs. Tee pre-sented to students a lecture based on the classical story of the young lovers. The speech was an excellent oppor-tunity for students to delve into most passionate, romantic and emotional aspects of life represented in such a beautiful classical yet also contemporary story.

Architecture Program from Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences organ-ized two public lectures during December. The first public lecture was related to the contemporary Egyptian architecture, and was titled “Contested Situations/Opposed Realities.” The lecture was delivered by Mr. Mazin Abdulkarim from the Arab Academy of Sciences and Technology in Cairo. It briefly exposed realities about contemporary architecture and urban design in Egypt and canvassed a wide range of examples from student works to architectural practices in the capi-tal city of Egypt. With a massive urban development in the last 60 years, Cairo became a city where architecture and urbanity contradict themselves proposing continuous dilemmas within its built environment, making it the ultimate place for spontaneous contradictions.

The second lecture organized by the Architecture Program was titled „Sinan: The Great Architect.“ This lecture was delivered by Dr. Aras Neftci, one of the well-known architectural photographers of Turkey. His photographs have been published in many spe-cialised books and magazines worldwide. Dr. Neftci is also one of the leading specialists in translating Ottoman architectural documents into modern Turkish. At present he works as a Specialist Researcher at the Faculty of Architecture, Istanbul Technical University. Dr. Neftci’s lecture attracted a large number of staff and students. During the lecture, the speaker exhibited to the audi-ence a wide range of works designed by the legendry sixteenth century Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan. The Great Architect Sinan is the most renowned Islamic architect who worked under the patronages of three Ottoman sultans. During his fifty-year tenure as the court architect Sinan left his signature on hundreds of buildings, namely mosques, bridges, hospitals and other civic buildings. Such buildings were not only constructed in the imperial capital Istanbul, but also throughout a vast geographical area from Eastern Europe to the Arabian Peninsula. Credit for organizing such lectures goes to the organizers, because they are excellent opportuni-ties for architecture students to gain knowledge from practicing and renowned architects.

Public Lectures by Architecture Program

Delegation from the University of Yalova from Turkey visited International University of Sarajevo on December 7, 2009, and ex-changed ideas with the Rector Prof. Dr. B. Gültekin Çetiner on the original copy of the Agreement of Cooperation signed between these two institutions of higher learning. Participants in this meeting discussed possibilities of student and staff exchanges and especially of collaboration in research and development areas.

Upon kind invitation, IUS representatives also plan to pay a visit to the University of Yalova, which is a newly established university consisting of three faculties namely, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Faculty of Law, and Faculty of Engineer-ing. Besides, the University also has harbors several institutes, schools and language centers. For exchange students who might be interested in spending some time of their education at this University, please find more information at www.yalova.edu.tr

Visit by Yalova University

SAT Exams at IUS

A Visit from First Bosniak High School Students

After being officially confirmed as an SAT Test Centre by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) in October 2009, International University of Sarajevo SAT Test Centre administered its first SAT Examination for 26 test-takers on De-cember 5, 2009. The IUS Majority of the test-takers were students that came from high schools and universities in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Dr. Mustafa Bal, the Coordinator of the IUS SAT Test Centre commented that “SAT examinations are simultaneously held all over the world and they certainly set a considerable standard for higher education.

The exams (both SAT Reasoning Test and SAT Subject Test) are quite impor-tant for students who wish to attend prestigious and recognized universities around the world, and many students, in this respect, especially those who are from Turkey, take this exam to be a uni-versity student at IUS.”

Dr. Mirza Suljagić from the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Italy presented a lecture titled “B-cell receptor signaling in Chronic Lymphocytic Leuke-mia: implications for pathogenesis and treatment” on De-cember 23, 2009. This lecture was opened by Prof. Dr. Abdul Razaque Memon, Genetics and Bioengineering Program Co-ordinator, in the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences.

The lecture began with the insight of the treatment of the Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) and then continued with the explanation of CLL’s features – most common type of leukemia, incurable with current treatment options.

The lecture was followed by a talk on the evidence pointing to a role for antigen stimulation in the development and pro-gression of CLL, after which Dr. Suljagić described what hap-pens when BCR stimulation induces powerful anti-apoptotic program in CLL B-cells.

A Public Lecture:Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Group of pupils from the renowned First Bosniak High School in Sarajevo paid a visit to the International University of Sarajevo on December 21, 2009. The pupils were greeted by Dr. Ann Henry who initiated and organized the visit. Pupils were then received by the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, As-soc. Prof. Dr. Ali Güneş. Dr. Güneş used this opportunity to provide pupils with an overview of the University’s history and its mission and vision. He also briefed pupils about IUS academic structure, programs and university’s facilities.

As a part of this visit, pupils were given an opportunity to attend the lecture deliv-ered by Mrs. Enid Spielman, where they met students who shared with them their experiences of studying at IUS. In the last part of the program, pupils could join Dr. Ann Henry and Prof. Dr. Harry Miller and enjoy Turkish and Bosnian delicacies. This visit of pupils is a good example of interest high school students have shown in searching for the best University where they can continue their education. Will-ing to organize similar visits in the future, the University encourages high schools in Bosnia-Herzegovina to contact the University for such arrangements.

Visit by Former Turkish Minister for Energy and Natural Resources

International Symposium Announcement

On December 27, 2009, Rector, Prof. Dr. B. Gültekin Çetiner, together with two distinguished professors Prof. Dr. Ercan Öztemel

and Prof. Dr. Cemalettin Kubat, agreed to organize an International Symposium on Intelligent and Manufacturing Systems. This

7th Symposium in the field will take place in Sarajevo on September 7, 2010. Both Prof. Dr. Öztemel and Prof. Dr. Kubat have

been actively involved in creating and organizing all series of the IMS Symposiums which first started in Sakarya, Turkey in 2001.

Prof. Dr. Çetiner is also member of the Advisory Committee and International Program Committee of the Symposium, while Prof.

M. Kutluk Özguven from

the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration is the local organizer of the Symposium. Organizing Committee of the

Symposium is comprised of a large group of scientists that have significant reputation in their fields.

More information on the Symposium and call for papers can be explored at www.ius.edu.ba.

On December 24, 2009 International Relations Club organized a public lecture on

“Islam in the European Union: Perspectives and Challenges“. The lecture was de-

livered by Prof. Dr. Fikret Karčić from the Faculty of Islamic Sciences, the Univer-

sity of Sarajevo and consisted of two parts. In the first part – „Encounters between

Islam and Europe“ – Prof. Dr. Karčić presented three main encounters between

Muslims and non-Muslims in Europe. Some of them were confrontational while

some of them were peaceful. Prof. Dr. Karčić also stated that the most important

groups of Muslims who have been encountering Europe are Muslims from the

Balkans and the former Russian Federation.

The second part of the lecture was titled „Islam in the European Union: Social and Legal Framework.“ In this part, Prof. Dr. Karčić

expressed his views about the profiles of Muslims living in the EU. He articulated Muslim diversity too, by stating that Muslims con-

stitute of very heterogeneous communities, having in mind that Muslims living in the EU come from five different cultural zones of

the Muslims around the world. This lively lecture gave an opportunity to students to listen to rather a very unique historical-cultural

analysis of the Muslim presence, challenges and prospects they have been facing in Europe. Thanks go to International Relations

Club and in particular to two hard-working representatives Mr. Oğuzhan Gedik and Ms. Ayşenur Altuntaş for organising the event. IUS

appreciates such activities organized by students and encourages them to continue on the same path because such activities will

inevitably enhance students’ management skills, leadership skills and public relations-communication skills. International Relations

Club representatives have shown how the future leaders are being gradually shaped and made.

Public Lecture :“Islam in the European Union”

Rector Prof. Dr. B. Gültekin Çetiner participated in an official program of the visit of the President of Republic of Turkey, Dr. Abdullah Gül, to Tirana, Albania on December 11 and 12, 2009. During the visit, President Gül opened Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Centre, visited Turgut Özal Cultural and Educational Centre, inaugurated campus construction of the Epoka University and made a speech to Turkish businessmen in Tirana. Rector Çetiner participated in the entire program and found a chance to present, in brief, the International University of Sarajevo to the president Gül. On this trip, the Rector was accompanied by Dr. Mete Gündoğan and Dr. Hüsnü Demircan from the Faculty of Economics and Business Adminis-tration.

Rector’s Visit to Albania

Former Turkish Minister for Energy and Natural Resources, Dr. Mehmet Himi Güler, together with Turkish businessmen, Dr. Akkan Suver, from the Marmara Group Foundation and Mr. Orhan Erdem from the Bureau of Gnat visited our University on December 24, 2009. Distinguished guests were welcomed in the Rector’s Office by the Rector B. Gültekin Çetiner, member of the Execu-tive Board of the Foundation for Education Development Sarajevo, Mr. Alija Rizvanbegović, and Acting Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali Güneş. There guests were introduced to the vision and mission of the University.

After the meeting guests and their hosts proceeded to the Conference Hall where Dr. Güler gave a speech to stu-dents and staff. Dr. Güler’s speech touched many of the current topics from the areas of energy and economy. As the speech came to an end, Dr. Güler gave an advice to international students to use the opportunity of studying abroad, and especially emphasized the benefits of studying in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The speech continued with the ques-tion and answer session on current energy issues and then ended. On behalf of the Foundation for Education Develop-ment Sarajevo and the University tokens of appreciation for the guest were given by Mr. Rizvanbegović and the Rector.

Rector Prof. Dr. B. Gültekin Çetiner and the Act-ing Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social the Sciences, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali Güneş and their spouses were invited to a dinner in the Resi-dence of the Ambassador of Malaysia, H. E. Zulkifli Adnan on December 23, 2009. The din-ner was organized by the Malaysian Ambassa-dor in honor of Emir Hadžikadunić, the new Am-bassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Iran and the former General Secretary of our University.

Dinner at the Residence of Malaysian Ambassador

Student Council Elections On December 3, 2009, IUS organized Stu-dent Council elections as a result of which the following representatives were elected: Mr. Fuat Keleşoğlu from Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Mr. Musa Köse from Faculty of Economy and Business Adminis-tration, and Miss. Nada Elnour from Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Mr. Keleşoğlu was later further selected as the President of the Student Council. Afterwards, Student Council Board of Trustees representatives were de-termined consisting of the following members: Nurdan Keleşoğlu, Mustafa Görgüç, Büsra-nur Yeşilova, Murat Yeşiloğlu, Oguzhan Ge-dik, Ibrahim Inal, Aysenur Altuntaş, Aldijana Sadiković and Sümeyye Eroğlu.

Some statistics from the elections were as fol-lows: Mr. Musa Köse won 57 and Mr. Tahir Kavçakar 16 of 74 FEBA voting ballots, one ballot missing any decisions. In FASS, Miss Nada Elnour received 30 and Abdulhamit Bolat 11 of their friends votes. As Mr. Fuat Keleşoğlu was the only candidate from FENS, he was elected as the FENS representative without voting. Elected representatives have indeed tremendous responsibility in repre-senting and leading the student community. They are to address their friends’ academic and social demands, representing them even at the Senate level.

The mission of elected representatives should be directed towards developing suggestions on the formulation of the strategies, plans and policies that could contribute towards an aca-demic and administrative development of the University as a whole.

More than two hundred IUS students, staff and guests gath-ered in the Conference Hall for the second Film & Video Fes-tival that was organized under the auspices of Visual Arts and Communication Design Pro-gram in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences on December 28, 2009. This most popular event of the month was opened by Assistant Professor Zinka Bejtić, VACD Program Coordi-nator. Then, people present had an opportunity to watch around 100 creative student works in the categories of graphic de-sign, animation, commercials and short movies.

The second part of the festi-val was reserved for the Award Ceremony. The awards were presented and delivered by the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali Güneş, to the following win-ners: best graphic design: Irma Žmirić; best animation: Tarik Jašarević; best stop animation: Muhammet Abdulsamet Bakir; best commercial: Rumeysa Temiz; best short film: Ahmet Erdem and Bilal Çakmak, and best actor: Ah-met Faruk Kılıç.

Mrs. Bejtic explained the significance of this festival by stating that “This Festival gives a great chance for students to show what they learned and how they are growing as professional artists.” Indeed, VACD is an excep-tional program in the University that frequently illustrates creativity, skills and knowledge of the students.

Second VACD Film & Video Festival

Student Council Visited the New Campus

A Valediction to the Former General Secretary Emir Hadžikadunic

Poetry Reading and Workshop by English Language and Literature Programme

Mrs. Heather-Derr Smith, an American poet, held a poetry reading at the International Uni-versity of Sarajevo on December 7, 2009. Mrs. Smith was introduced to the audience by Dr. Ann Henry, a visiting professor at the Eng-lish Language and Literature Program. Mrs. Smith read poems from her book titled Each End of the World. This book was written dur-ing the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina while the writer was working in a refugee camp. Thus, her poems are interwoven with beautiful and heart touching folk motives and refugee sto-ries representing collective pain, suffering and outcry. Therefore, Mrs. Smith rightly pointed out that „poems from this book are labors of love“.

Mrs. Smith also read poems from her other work such as The Bride Minaret. This book is a collection of poems that bear witness to the close connection between human suffer-ing, human goodness, love and peace. This book is also politico-poetical as it represents sufferings and human tragedies of the peo-ple in the war-zones. Mrs. Smith also stated “… I’m stuck forever wrestling with these big questions about suffering and God and hu-man meaning. I’m always drawn to genocide and war and poverty…” Beside reading her poems Mrs. Smith, together with Dr. Ann Hen-ry, organized a poetry workshop for both staff and students.

Appreciating the contributions of the former General Secretary and future Ambassador of Bosnia-Herzegovina to Iran, Mr. Emir Hadžikadunić, IUS or-ganized a farewell gathering on December 10, 2009. The gathering began with a short speech delivered by the Vice Rector, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhamed Hadžiabdić who thanked Mr. Hadžikadunić for the contributions and sacri-fices he had made for the sake of the development of the University. He exclaimed that IUS has become the hothouse for the future Ambassadors, because beside Mr. Hadžikadunić, Mr. Amel Kovačević, FEBA Lecturer has also been appointed as an Ambassador of Bosnia-Herzegovina to People’s Republic of China.

This gathering also included refreshments and the presentation of a small gift bought by IUS employees to show appreciation to Mr. Hadžikadunić. Mr. Hadžikadunić shared his impressions about the University and its fu-ture prospects by articulating the institution’s development in terms of the number of staff and students. He also expressed his wishes for the fulfill-ment of University’s aim in becoming the leading university in the region as he said that „I had the honor of being a part of this promising cultural and educational project.“ Mr. Hadžikadunić promised to stay in touch with the University in the future.

On December 19, 2009 the Student Council representatives Fuat Keleşoğlu, Oguzhan Gedik, Ibrahim Inal, Musa Köse, Murat Yeşiloğlu, Nurdan Keleşoğlu visited the IUS Campus construction site in Ilidža. There they had a chance to discuss with the organizor of the visit, Rector Prof. Dr. B. Gültekin Çetiner who purposefully organized this visit as to inform student representatives on the progress made on the Campus construc-tion. Students used this opportunity to look around and get acquinted with the future premises of the University. Despite the snow and winter condi-tions, the works at the construction site were carried out, and the estima-tions and the plans show that the first phase of the Campus construction will be finished in 2010.