The International Balkan University (IBU), in collaboration with Insani Hayat Derneği—the coordinating institution—has successfully completed the second phase of the “Basic Training on Addiction” project, funded by the Turkish National Agency under the Erasmus+ KA154 Youth Participation Program. IBU participated as a partner institution, and the process was carried out under the coordination of the University’s Projects and Research Office, ensuring active student engagement in all phases of the project.

As part of the project, students took part in an educational excursion to Istanbul, Türkiye, where they had the opportunity to observe and learn directly from institutions actively working in the field of addiction prevention and treatment. The institutions visited included Yeşilay (The Green Crescent), YEDAM (Green Crescent Counseling Centers), BAYDER, Pusula Association, and AMATEM Bakırköy (Alcohol and Substance Addiction Treatment Center).

Representing IBU, Dr. Sümeyye Açıkgöz, Head of the Projects and Research Office, participated in the project as the lead coordinator, while Psychology Department teaching assistant Sumea Ramadani contributed as the local coordinator and trainer. Both played key roles in supporting the students’ educational development and field-based learning, significantly enriching the project’s impact.

The institutional visits provided students with in-depth insights into the professional methods, rehabilitation models, and community-based prevention strategies employed in Türkiye’s addiction response system. The successful completion of this second phase in Türkiye stands as a testament to IBU’s commitment to advancing mental health education and fostering international cooperation in the social and health sciences.