The International Balkan University (IBU) successfully hosted yet another significant gathering where scientific thought and academic collaboration were at the forefront. The 2nd International Rumelia Social Sciences Congress, which began on May 14, 2025, concluded with strong participation and content-rich sessions.

The congress opened with a speech by IBU Rector Prof. Dr. Lütfi Sunar. In his address, Sunar emphasized IBU’s academic contributions to the field of social sciences, highlighting that the university remains committed to enriching the region not only through technical and natural sciences but also through the intellectual legacy of the social sciences.

Also speaking at the opening were Istanbul Rumeli University Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kara and Tirana New York University Rector Prof. Dr. Ali Güneş. They both noted that the congress served as more than just an academic platform-it also functioned as a vital bridge strengthening regional cooperation. Both rectors stressed that such international events significantly deepen scientific dialogue across the Balkans.

In the first session, Prof. Dr. Ümit Kocabıçak, President of the Higher Education Quality Council of Türkiye (YÖKAK), delivered a presentation titled “Accreditation, Quality, and Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education,” shedding light on the digital transformation processes in contemporary higher education.

In the same session, Tirana New York University Rector Prof. Dr. Ali Güneş presented his paper titled “Memory, Identity, and Alienation in Hanif Kureishi’s Short Story Long Ago Yesterday,” offering a deep literary analysis of identity and belonging.

Bringing together numerous academics and researchers, the congress fostered interdisciplinary perspectives and made significant contributions to the advancement of social sciences in the Balkans. Concluding successfully, the congress laid a strong foundation for future academic collaborations and left a lasting impact both regionally and globally.