The Psychology (PSY) study program organized a “Show and Tell” workshop with the participation of the full Psychology academic team, welcoming high school students interested in psychology and student life at IUS. The event opened with a warm welcome and an overview of the program and its academic units delivered by the Program Coordinator, Dr. Pınar Ünal-Aydın.
In her address, Dr. Ünal-Aydın highlighted CORE-ED Academy, an EU co-funded Erasmus+ project focused on juvenile justice. She presented key insights from the project’s needs analysis, conducted with professionals working in correctional and educational sectors, and emphasized the ongoing development of a specialized curriculum for higher education and in-service training. She also underlined the value of international collaboration networks and research partnerships in advancing evidence-based education and practice in this field.
The workshop continued with contributions from Dr. Selvira Draganović, Dr. Mersiha Jusić, Dr. Lejla Mustoo-Başer, and Dr. Faruk Obuća, who introduced their areas of expertise, current academic activities, and teaching approaches, offering students a clearer picture of the program’s breadth and learning environment.
As part of the workshop, Dr. Selvira Draganović led a short interactive session on positive psychology interventions, with a focus on gratitude practice. Participants explored easy-to-apply, evidence-based techniques and their psychological benefits, and took part in simple gratitude exercises that can be incorporated into everyday life to support well-being, positive emotions, and resilience.
Dr. Faruk Obuća introduced students to research and project opportunities within the program, including innovative technologies available through the Virtual Reality Laboratory, which is open during working hours for students and faculty. He also responded to students’ questions and shared information about the University Counseling Center, emphasizing IUS’s commitment to academic support and student well-being.
The workshop concluded with an open Q&A session where students asked questions directly and received answers from the entire academic team. Overall, the event fostered meaningful interaction between participants and faculty, while providing valuable insight into the structure, opportunities, and supportive culture of the PSY program.
