IUS SDG Week 2026: Connecting Sustainability, Environment, and Community
May 18–22, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
The International University of Sarajevo (IUS) is proud to announce IUS SDG Week 2026, taking place from May 18 to May 22, 2026. Organized by the IUS SDG Committee with the support of IUS Management, this annual event reflects IUS's long-term commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its integration of sustainability into academic and campus life.
This year's SDG Week is built around the theme "Connecting Sustainability, Environment, and Community", with a strong focus on student-centered learning, hands-on workshops, community engagement, and interdisciplinary dialogue. The programme spans five days of lectures, exhibitions, workshops, and outdoor activities — open to students, faculty, staff, and the wider community.
Programme Highlights
Monday, May 18 — Opening Ceremony
The week kicks off at the IUS Art Gallery (10:00) with the presentation of finalists for the IUS Green Campus Competition 2026 and the award ceremony for the IUS Student Photo Contest 2026: Concrete Jungle. The day continues with a lecture and workshop by Tamara Mayer (MFA Product Design) on From Object to Process: The Art of Planned Repurposing, followed by a creative student workshop — From Waste to Wonder: Collaging My 2030 — led by ELS Instructor Mehtap Özer Isović. In the afternoon, Dr. Selma Harrington, Director of Foundation NEB4BiH and Honorary Consul of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Ireland, will present on sustainability, conservation, and circularity in historic built environments.
Tuesday, May 19 — Urban Transformation & Data for Sustainability
Tuesday features lectures by Nejra Hodžić, Project Manager at the Office for Sustainable Development of the City of Sarajevo and architect Emir Salkić, of Normal arhitektura. Hodžić will present real-world examples of how participative urban transformation is reshaping the city in line with sustainability goals. Salkić will then address architect’s role in promoting and reinforcing social sustainability: his lecture focuses on the Parents' House, a facility for children with cancer and their families. The afternoon continues with a 3D modelling workshop in which students will reimagine Sarajevo's multicultural heritage. In the afternoon, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özge Büyükdağlı leads a data-driven workshop on making sustainable decisions for local communities. The day closes with an open ACM Poster Session: Computing in My Field — Ethics, Equity and Sustainability, celebrating women in computing, with student posters from universities across Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Wednesday, May 20 — World Bee Day
Marking World Bee Day, Wednesday's programme focuses on the intersection of ecology and human health. Prof. Dr. Adi Vesnić (University of Sarajevo, Faculty of Science) will explore climate change impacts on pollination and beekeeping in BiH, while Dr. Safija Softić-Namas (IUS Faculty of Medical Sciences) will address the health benefits of bee products.
Thursday, May 21 — Well-Being, Identity & Peacebuilding
Two workshops take centre stage on Thursday at the Matrakcı Lab (IUS R&D Center). The first, led by certified peacebuilding trainer Jusuf Mičijević, guides students through themes of identity, well-being, and conflict resolution. The second - facilitated by Master's students in Clinical Psychology under the mentorship of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Selvira Draganović - offers IUS staff a workshop on mental health and self-regulation.
Friday, May 22 — Closing Ceremony & Community Action
The week closes on a dual note of celebration, learning, and community service. In the morning, IUS students join local primary schools in a Community Clean-Up Action in Novi Grad Municipality, marking the International Day for Biological Diversity. Students from the Faculty of Medical Sciences and the Genetics and Bioengineering programme will take an active role in the action. Back on campus, the programme continues with the workshop “AI in Research: Enhancing Learning and Innovation through Computational Methods and AI-Based Research Applications,” delivered by Dr. Emir Hambo and Dr. Admir Mešković, on Friday, May 22, at 10:00 AM in the Red Amphitheater. At the same time, the IUS Green Campus Competition 2026 Award Presentation takes place at the Art Gallery (10:00), while the afternoon features a workshop on Sustainable Creativity and Nature-Based Printing Through Cyanotype, led by Professor Aida Redžepagić and student Salko Hamzić.
Join Us
All professors are warmly invited to attend lectures together with their students and to encourage participation in SDG workshops as part of experiential and practice-based learning. Academic and administrative staff are equally encouraged to join the activities throughout the week.
Student workshops are open to all IUS students and require prior registration: IUS SDG Week 2026 Workshop Registration Survey – Fill out form
For further information, SDG-related ideas, or initiatives, please contact the IUS SDG Committee at: sdg@ius.edu.ba
