The International University of Sarajevo (IUS) marked the successful conclusion of the 14th IIIT Summer School for postgraduate and doctoral students, “Islam in Europe: Challenges of Pluralism,” with a certificate ceremony held on August 20, 2026.
Hosted at IUS, the ten-day international academic program brought together 24 selected Master’s and PhD students from across Europe, offering an intensive platform for academic exchange, critical reflection and the development of lasting scholarly networks.
The Summer School was jointly organized by the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT), the European Institute for Epistemological Studies in Brussels, the Center for Advanced Studies (CNS) in Sarajevo, and the Fairfax Institute in the United States, with IUS serving as the host institution.
Over the course of 50 working hours, participants explored a wide range of contemporary issues in Islamic, social and humanities studies, including freedom of religion, gender perspectives in the Qur’an, contemporary approaches to hadith and sunnah, Islamic ethics, Islamophobia, Islamic revival and decolonization. Particular attention was given to the experiences of Muslims in Europe and the Balkans, the integration of knowledge and the role of Islamic thought in building more inclusive societies.
The academic program brought together a distinguished group of internationally recognized scholars, including Dr. Jasser Auda, Dr. Jonathan Brown, Dr. Shuruq Naguib, Dr. Jorgen S. Nielsen, Dr. Ermin Sinanović, Dr. Beddy Ebnou, Dr. Anas Al-Shaikh-Ali, Dr. Omar H. Kasule, Dr. Mustafa Cerić, Dr. Ahmet Alibašić, Dr. Dževada Garić, Dr. Ravza Altuntaş, Dr. Hasan Nuhanović and Ms. Đermana Kurić.
The program also extended beyond the classroom. Participants visited Srebrenica, where they reflected on the importance of memory, moral responsibility and lessons from the past in building a more just and secure future. Sarajevo itself provided a meaningful setting for discussions on pluralism, coexistence and the experience of Muslim communities in Europe.
The closing ceremony was attended by IUS Rector Prof. Dr. Ali Osman Kuşakcı, who congratulated the participants and emphasized the importance of academic platforms that bring together young scholars from diverse backgrounds.
Reflecting on this year’s theme, Rector Kuşakcı highlighted the importance of finding common ground in plural societies and referred to the concept of “Al-Ismah bil Adamiyyah” – inviolability due to humanity, stressing the shared rights and responsibilities that arise from our common human dignity.
He also reflected on Malcolm X’s experience of the Hajj as an example of how encounters across racial and cultural differences can transform perspectives and deepen understanding.
Addressing the participants, Rector Kuşakcı thanked the organizers and emphasized IUS’s long-standing role as host of the program, adding:
“You can consider IUS your second home. See you again in Sarajevo.”
Following the closing remarks, certificates were presented to the participants by Prof. Dr. Ali Osman Kuşakcı, Dr. Anas Al-Shaikh-Ali and Dr. Ahmet Alibašić.
By hosting the Summer School once again, IUS reaffirmed its commitment to supporting international academic dialogue, intellectual exchange and the development of young scholars equipped to engage critically and responsibly with the challenges of contemporary plural societies.
