The Opening Ceremony of BISTLAB at the IBU
IBU officially inaugurated BISTLAB | Balkan Economy and Finance Laboratory within the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences at the International Balkan University (IBU) on October 28th, 2025. Established in cooperation with Borsa İstanbul Inc., this initiative marks Borsa İstanbul’s first investment abroad, representing a major milestone for both institutions.
The opening ceremony brought together representatives from the government, academia, financial institutions, media and the business community. The event featured addresses by Assoc. Prof. Liza Allili Sulejmani, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences; Prof. Dr. Lutfi Sunar, Rector of IBU; Recep Süleyman Özdil, President of the IBU Management Board; as well as distinguished guests from the Insurance Supervision Agency and the Macedonian Stock Exchange. Asst. Prof. Elena Parnardzieva Stanoevska and Assistant Diellza Billalli, both from the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences at IBU, also delivered remarks during the ceremony.
BISTLAB | Balkan Economy and Finance Laboratory represents a modern educational and research platform designed to bridge the gap between theory and practice in economics, business, and finance. Through simulation-based learning and data-driven research, the laboratory aims to enhance financial literacy, foster regional cooperation, and connect academia with the real economy.
The ceremony featured keynote addresses, a ribbon-cutting session, and a Virtual Trading Simulation Game organized with the Macedonian Stock Exchange, where our students demonstrated their analytical and trading skills. The event concluded with a networking session that reflected our ongoing commitment to fostering partnerships that drive education, technology, and sustainable economic growth across the region.
