2020 Western Balkans Youth Conference: Regional Cooperation and Integration

BSC International Student Conference (BSCISC)

Western Balkans Youth Conference: Regional Cooperation and Integration

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, ~~29 May 2020~~ 10 July 2020

DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDENT CONFERENCE 2020

The Conference “Western Balkan Youth Conference: Regional Cooperation and Integration” reflects the University’s interdisciplinary and international character by offering a platform for students and recent graduates in arts, humanities, social sciences, and technical sciences from all over the world to exchange their ideas and experience in an intellectually stimulating academic environment. The fundamental objective of the conference is to provide students with an educational experience that prepares them for their future. Submitted papers will be evaluated by the Scientific Committee, composed of distinguished scholars, whereupon best papers awards will be assigned to three best rated papers.

THE CONFERENCE AIMS

Tackle current social, political and economic issues in the context of present research studies;
Encourage the exchange of views, experiences and findings among students from Bosnia and Herzegovina and abroad;
Review and identify research topics and knowledge related to students’ interests;
Promote interdisciplinary presentations from different academic areas that will bring new perspectives across various fields of study;
Address recent social and scientific issues with an emphasis on research originality;
Give an opportunity to students to present their research and findings, with a possibility of their promotion and application;
Encourage students to share their researches and exchange ideas with their peers; and
Offer a platform for students from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Balkans and the world for networking and establishing contacts for future collaboration.

BROAD CONFERENCE TOPICS

BSC Conference 2020 welcomes papers from all disciplines within humanities, arts and social sciences, and technical sciences. Possible themes may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Regional Cooperation within South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP)
The Prospects of the Balkans Countries in the EU
The Balkans in the EU: Compliance with Copenhagen Political, Economic and Legal Criteria
Regional Cooperation as a Path towards the Balkans Post-Conflict Peace-Building
Regional Cooperation within the Frame of Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)
The Balkans Prospects for Cooperation through Building Infrastructure, Transportation and Communication
Balkans Cooperation: Bilateral, Trilateral and Quadrilateral Initiatives
The Balkans Education Reforms
The Balkans Public Administration Reforms
The Balkans Economic Cooperation, Entrepreneurship and Trade
The Balkans Utilization of Instruments for Pre-Accession (IPA)
Regional Initiatives for the Balkans Cooperation and Integration
Historical Analysis of the Balkans Cooperation
Democratization of the Balkans
Human Rights in the Balkans
The Balkans Security Prospects and Challenges
The Balkans Trade and Commerce within the Frame of CEFTA
The Balkans Technical and Scientific Cooperation
The Balkans Energy Politics
The Balkans Finance and Banking
The Balkans Communications and Telecommunications
The Prospects for the Balkans Technological Networking
The Balkans Political and Parliamentary Cooperation
The Balkans Information Society
The Balkans Civil Society and NGOs
Tackling Challenges of Migrations in the Balkans
The Prospects for the Balkans Rule and Law
The EU Politics towards the Balkans
The EU Instruments for the Balkans Reconstruction, Development and Stabilization
The Balkans Digitalization Process, Roaming and Information Systems
The Balkans within the Transportation Community
The EU Transportation and Energy Projects in the Balkans
The Balkans Minorities
The Balkans Youth Initiatives
“The Balkans Erasmus+” for Regional Cooperation
The Balkans Youth Cooperation

ORGANIZERS

The Conference is organized by the Balkan Studies Center (BSC) of the International University of Sarajevo, and in cooperation with the Student Parliament at the International University of Sarajevo (SPIUS).

COORDINATORS OF THE “STUDENT CONFERENCE”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhidin Mulalić
Mr. Hamza Preljević

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE (students representatives)

Amar Buljubašić
Amar Karađuz
Hena Begović
Erna Hrstić
Oğuzhan Çoklü
Caner Albayrak
Selma Ibrekić

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

To be announced.

THE SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mirsad Karić

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aliye Fatma Mataracı

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmed Ganić

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Senad Bušatlić

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Goran Šimić

Assist. Prof. Dr. Aliaksandr Novikau

Assist. Prof. Dr. Azra Branković

Assist. Prof. Dr. Emil Knezović

Assist. Prof. Dr. Šejma Aydin

Assist. Prof. Dr. Ena Kazić

Assist. Prof. Dr. Tarik Namas

Assist. Porf. Dr. Benjamin Duraković

ADMISSION CRITERIA

The program is designed for senior students in humanities, social sciences, and technical sciences as well as for those who are interested in developing their knowledge and expertise in the topics offered by the BSC Student Conference 2020.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Abstract submission

Organizers of the Conference welcome online submissions written in the official language of Bosnia and Herzegovina and/or the English language that are closely related to the areas specified in the call for papers. Abstracts should not exceed 300 words and they must clearly indicate the problem, objectives, research methods, results and conclusions. Submitted abstracts must adhere to the set format. Abstracts that exceed the word limit or include graphics and tables will be rejected.

Authors are also advised to proofread their abstracts because abstracts will be reproduced from the online submission. Any error in spelling, grammar or data will appear online or in print. Students are invited to submit their abstracts to bsc@ius.edu.ba by ~~6 April 2020~~ 20 May 2020. Students should be aware that abstract submission does not guarantee inclusion in the program.

Paper submission guidelines

Authors are requested to follow the set style and format.
Papers must be in the official languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina or the English and should not exceed 10000 words.
Papers must include, title, author name, affiliation or institution, abstract, key words and body of the paper.
Papers must display original thought and ideas. They must make concrete references to existing scholarship in the related area.
Citations and references should be made in accordance with the APA Style Manual.
Papers must be double-spaced (with single-spacing used for block quotations). Margins should be 2.5 cm. or 1 inch from all sides.
The first line of each paragraph should be indented. Block quotations should be indented 2.5 cm. or 1 inch from both the right and left margins.
Paper must be submitted in Microsoft Word document file format.
The text of the paper should be double-spaced with Times New Roman 12-point font; all illustrations, figures, and tables are placed within the text at the appropriate points, rather than at the end.
Papers will be accepted only if they meet the requirements.

The Scientific Committee will assess the quality of papers and determine whether they will be suitable for publishing. Papers that have been previously presented or published will not be accepted. Only the students who submit their full papers within the specified deadline will be allowed to present at the Conference.

Presentation Guidelines

The presentations can be presented in the official languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina or the English language.
Each paper will be allotted 30 minutes, 20 minutes for presentation and 10 minutes for discussion. Presenters may prepare oral presentations or poster presentations.
Organizers will provide all necessary equipments for your presentations, such as a video projector, laptop, microphones, markers, etc. Presenters may decide on their own whether to distribute handouts or copies of their paper to the audience.
Due to time constrains, presenters will not be permitted to exceed the time allotted for their presentation and for the question and answer session.
Presenters will be asked to bring their presentation on thumb drive and arrange with the moderator and the technician to make it ready before beginning of the presentation in order not to delay the Conference timeframe.

ATTENDANCE

Students must attend the conference and present their paper.

AWARDING

Certificate of attendance from the organizers.

BEST PAPER AWARDS

The Scientific Committee will select three best papers, which will be assigned the following awards:

1st best paper 300,00 BAM

2nd best paper 200,00 BAM

3rd best paper 100,00 BAM

VENUE

The Conference will take place in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Hercegovina.

PARTICIPATION FEE

No participation fee applied.

HOW TO APPLY?

Prospective applicants should send their abstracts and short biographical statement to bsc@ius.edu.ba by ~~6 April 2020~~ 20 May 2020. The results of the selection process will be communicated via E-mail, within 10 working days following receipt of the application.

IMPORTANT DATES

Monday 15th January 2020 – Applications open

~~Monday 6th April~~ Wednesday 20th May 2020 – Abstract submission

~~Monday 4th May~~ Friday 5th June 2020 – Full paper submission

10 working days following receipt of the application – Notification to applicants

~~Friday 29th May~~ Friday 10th July 2020 – Conference Day

*Due to the unfolding coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the organizers will consider conference presentation to be put online.

FURTHER INFORMATION/CONTACTS:

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhidin Mulalić

Coordinator of the Conference

Phone: +387 33 957 236

E-mail: mmulalic@ius.edu.ba