University of Sarajevo Representatives at the EUPeace Conference 2026 in Italy

From 28 to 30 September 2026, the University of Calabria (UNICAL) hosted the third annual conference of the EUPeace Alliance, entitled “Global Warming and Its Impact: Connections with Emerging Conflicts, Migrations, and Health Issues.” The conference brought together professors, researchers, doctoral candidates, early-career researchers, students and representatives of EUPeace member institutions, providing a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue, knowledge exchange and collaboration.

The University of Sarajevo (UNSA), as a member of the EUPeace Alliance, was represented through the participation of its researchers and doctoral candidates in conference panels, Research Hubs, Work Package 6 (WP6), the Doctoral Network and the Creative Spaces programme.

Prof. Dr Ehlimana Spahić, Associate Professor at the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Sarajevo, leader of Work Package 6 – Research Hubs and Doctoral Studies (WP6) and member of the Research Hub Climate Science and Just Transition, presented the paper “Lifelong Learning for Sustainable Development: Challenges, Opportunities, and Limitations”, together with Ajla Spahić from the Association for Lifelong Learning Minerva in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The paper was presented as part of the panel “Sustainability Literacy, Environmental Values and Social Engagement”.

Assist. Prof. Dr Anida Dudić-Sijamija, Assistant Professor at the Department of Social Work, Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Sarajevo, and member of the Research Hub Inclusive Health and Well-Being, presented the paper “Psychosocial Well-being of Migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Systemic Challenges and Professional Perspectives” within the panel “Climate-driven Migration, Vulnerability and Psychosocial Well-being”.

Senior Teaching Assistant Fatima Mahmutović, MA, from the Department of Security and Peace Studies, Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Sarajevo, member of the Doctoral Network and Work Package 6 – Research Hubs and Doctoral Studies (WP6), presented the paper “Climate-Induced Migration and the Securitisation of European Politics” within the panel “Peace and Political, Civil and Religious Movements”.

The University of Sarajevo’s participation was further strengthened by contributions from doctoral candidates from different UNSA member institutions, whose research addressed climate change, social vulnerability and well-being.

Ismir Smajić, a doctoral candidate at the Faculty of Science, University of Sarajevo, presented the paper “Climate Change Impact on Protected Natural Areas of Sarajevo Canton” within the panel “Climate Risk, Environmental Transitions and Resilient Infrastructure”, organised within the Research Hub Climate Science and Just Transition.

Andrea Pavlović, a doctoral candidate and teaching assistant at the Faculty of Architecture, University of Sarajevo, Department of Urban Planning and Spatial Planning, together with Goran Bosankić, Independent Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction Expert, presented the paper “Climate-Risk Management and Social Vulnerability: Case Study of Internally Displaced People Settlements in BiH”. The paper was presented within the panel “Climate Vulnerability, Health Risks and Unequal Adaptation”, organised within the Research Hub Climate Science and Just Transition.

Antonio Topalović, a doctoral candidate at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Sarajevo, participated as a co-author of the paper “Scroll to Social: Enhancing Social Participation in the Digital Age”, together with Firdevs Gündoğan Önderöz, Kenan Ateşgöz, Erum Afzal and Yasemin Çakici. The paper was presented within the panel “Health, Climate and Preventive Well-Being: Communication and Public Narratives”, organised within the Research Hub Inclusive Health and Well-Being.

In addition to conference presentations, representatives of the University of Sarajevo participated in other activities of the EUPeace Alliance. Prof. Dr Ehlimana Spahić and Senior Teaching Assistant Fatima Mahmutović, MA, took part in the activities of Work Package 6 (WP6), dedicated to Research Hubs and Doctoral Studies. The first-day programme included a joint opening session for members of WP6 and the Doctoral Network, a WP6 meeting and a Doctoral Network workshop. Meetings of the EUPeace Research Hubs were also held.

Senior Teaching Assistant Fatima Mahmutović, MA, also participated in the implementation of the Creative Space “Health and Peace in Times of Policrisis: Inter- and Transdisciplinary Perspectives for EUPeace”, together with Prof. Michael Knipper from Justus Liebig University Giessen.

The participation of University of Sarajevo representatives at the EUPeace Conference 2026 demonstrated UNSA’s interdisciplinary presence within the EUPeace Alliance, bringing together the Faculty of Political Sciences, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Architecture and Faculty of Philosophy around topics including climate change, just transition, sustainable development, migration, security, social vulnerability, health and well-being. At the same time, participation in the Research Hubs, Work Package 6, the Doctoral Network and other joint activities contributed to the further development of interdisciplinary exchange and research collaboration by the University of Sarajevo within the EUPeace European University Alliance.