American students in Sarajevo: summer school as a space of intercultural dialogue and academic exchange

In the framework of the continuous cooperation based on the bilateral agreement between Northwestern University and the University of Sarajevo, the study abroad program “Comparative Public Health: Serbia & Bosnia and Herzegovina” gathers US students in Sarajevo again this year, with the objective of studying together about public health, culture and the history of post-conflict societies. Last Monday, the program was officially kick-started by Prof. Kemal Durić, the University of Sarajevo’s Vice-Rector for International Relations, who welcomed Northwestern students, along with greetings by Prof. Sead Turčalo, Dean of University of Sarajevo’s Faculty of Political Sciences, where most of the program classes will be held.

This unique program facilitates academic exchanges, brings together young people from different cultural backgrounds, and fosters the development of critical thinking about the role of education and health in building trust. Upon their arrival, students from the United States participated in an orientation session with their peers and staff of the University of Sarajevo, initiating the first contact and developing a foundation for their interaction over the course of the program. A guided tour of Sarajevo was conducted, along with a series of interactive classes about the historical, cultural and social aspects of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This study abroad program is created to build linguistic and cultural bonds, thanks to dynamic learning sessions of the languages in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as of the education practices and values that shape the spirit of the local academic community. The commitment of this nature testifies to the openness, curiosity, and readiness of American students to take an active part in the process of understanding the context of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as that of the region.