We convened an important annual meeting in our conference hall, bringing together both our academic and administrative staff to review the academic year, strengthen institutional alignment, and reinforce our shared commitment to excellence. The meeting opened with our Vice-Rector for Education, Asst. Prof. Dr. Ebru Ibish, who addressed key academic processes for the year, including the timely submission of examinations and essential matters related to students’ graduation theses. This opening session reaffirmed our collective responsibility for academic quality, student-centered practices, and structured educational planning.

The program continued with a comprehensive address by our Rector, Prof. Dr. Lütfi Sunar, who presented an institutional overview of the activities, initiatives, and achievements realized across all areas throughout the year. We reflected on our academic, scientific, cultural, and community-focused efforts, offering a clear picture of how IBU has continued to grow and strengthen its impact. During this segment, we also proudly acknowledged academic colleagues who received promotions or newly joined our university, highlighting our ongoing investment in professional development and institutional sustainability.

The meeting further featured an address by our Vice-Rector for Research and Projects, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Katerina Mitevska Petrusheva, who shared insights into ongoing projects and broader research directions, emphasizing our strategic focus on innovation, collaboration, and international engagement. The gathering concluded with a formal recognition ceremony led by our Rector, during which we honored members of our academic and administrative staff who have completed 15 and 10 years of dedicated service to IBU with plaques of appreciation, and celebrated project-based achievements through the awarding of certificates. This meaningful annual gathering once again reflected our strong institutional culture, respect for long-term dedication, and forward-looking commitment to shared success at IBU.