On December 14, 2023, in celebration of the two-decade milestone of the International University of Sarajevo (IUS), a conference titled "Secrets of Success" was organized. The esteemed guest of honor for this occasion was Prof. Dr. Veysel Eroğlu, the former Minister of Forestry and Water Affairs.
Among the distinguished attendees were Mr. Hasan Topaloğlu, President of the Foundation for Education Development Sarajevo (SEDEF) and the President of the Board of Foreign Economic Relations (Dış Ekonomik İlişkiler Kurulu – DEIK); Prof. Dr. Fahrudin Rizvanbegović, a founding member of IUS; Prof. Dr. Ahmet Yıldırım, the Rector of IUS; Mr. Abdülkadir Taçyıldız, former President of the SEDEF Foundation and one of its founding members, along with other prominent guests, academic staff, and students of IUS.
In his welcoming address, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Yıldırım emphasized IUS's commitment to its mission and vision, emphasizing the institution's dedication to excellence and high-quality education over its two-decade journey. The university has evolved into a respected higher education institution, gaining recognition not only in Bosnia and Herzegovina but also in the broader region.
During his inspiring speech, Prof. Dr. Veysel Eroğlu shared insights into the secrets of success, drawing from his experiences as a university professor and Minister of Forestry and Water Affairs. Highlighting notable achievements, including solving water supply issues in Istanbul and the Princes' Islands, he recounted the success of the Golden Horn project, which earned international acclaim.
Addressing historical ties between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Turkey, Prof. Eroğlu also touched on the ongoing conflict in Palestine, drawing parallels to historical events. The latter part of his speech was dedicated to imparting wisdom to the future generation of professionals. He emphasized key principles for success, including goal-setting, embracing both short- and long-term objectives, welcoming criticism, collaborating with colleagues, adhering to deadlines, efficient time management, swift decision-making, curiosity, self-reflection, proactivity, optimal utilization of intellectual capacity, and executing tasks to the best of one's ability.
The conference concluded with the presentation of a token of appreciation to Prof. Dr. Veysel Eroğlu by Mr. Hasan Topaloğlu, President of the SEDEF Foundation. Additionally, Prof. Dr. Fahrudin Rizvanbegović received a token of appreciation from Mr. Abdülkadir Taçyıldız, former President of the SEDEF Foundation and one of its founding members.
