International Balkan University (IBU) held a graduation ceremony on May 30, celebrating the academic achievements of the Class of 2025 at its campus in Skopje, North Macedonia. More than 1,000 attendees, including family members, friends, faculty, and dignitaries, gathered to honor over 350 graduates from undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs.

This year’s graduates represent the university’s 15th generation since its establishment in 2006, continuing IBU’s mission of academic excellence and intercultural dialogue.

IBU Rector Prof. Dr. Lütfi Sunar said the university was founded “to provide quality education, to bring cultures together, and to build bridges between Türkiye and the Balkans.”

“At IBU, we follow two simple principles: perfection in education and openness in spirit. We aim to give our students the best. We demand excellence. We support creativity. We respect difference. We welcome everyone. Student wellbeing is a leading and guiding concept for us in all our processes. We believe that a healthy, happy, and supported student is the foundation of real learning and success.” Sunar added.

“You are the result of this vision,” he told the graduates. “You are the pride of this institution. You have studied with friends from many nations. You have learned not only facts, but values — truth, respect, responsibility.”

In an emotional appeal, Prof. Sunar also drew attention to the situation in Gaza: “While we celebrate, we must also remember those who cannot. In Gaza, students like you have lost everything. Their schools have been turned to dust… As a university, we raise our voice for them. We stand with the students of Gaza. We stand with life, with peace, with justice.”

He thanked the families, faculty, and institutional supporters for their contributions, and concluded: “Congratulations, Class of 2025. You are ready. The world is waiting. And IBU will always be your home.”

Mr. Ajdovan Ademoski, representing the IBU Board of Trustees and Management Board, emphasized the values instilled during the students’ time at the university. “Success is not just the diploma in your hands, but also the values, hard work, and integrity that you carry with you,” he said.

He called on graduates to be bold and proactive in shaping their futures: “Be brave, think broadly, and carry with you the experience you gained here… Your success is our pride.”

Türkiye’s Ambassador to Skopje, H.E. Fatih Ulusoy, conveyed congratulations on behalf of the Turkish President and highlighted the strategic importance of educational cooperation. “One of the most significant dimensions of our cooperation with the Republic of North Macedonia is our joint activities in education and culture,” he said.

Praising IBU’s development, Ulusoy noted: “Founded in 2006… the International Balkan University has become one of the leading educational institutions in North Macedonia.”

He advised students to balance knowledge with tradition: “While keeping up with the realities of the era, technology, and innovations, let us remain considerate to preserving our culture and traditions that shape the character of our society.”

Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of North Macedonia, Prof. Dr. Vesna Janevska, congratulated the graduates and acknowledged IBU’s academic contributions. “I do not doubt that your professors prepared you well for the upcoming challenges,” she said.

She commended the university’s infrastructure and commitment to quality: “Although criticism about the quality of academic education is mainly directed towards private institutions, I have emphasized on several occasions that some private universities and faculties excel in their work. The International Balkan University is among them.”

Janevska also highlighted the importance of alumni networks for mentorship and professional growth.

First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, Mr. Izet Mexhiti delivered an emotive address, emphasizing the moral and societal value of education. “Here, the word is not an instrument but evidence. Here, the weight is not measured by budgets, but by effort,” he said.

He urged students to be critical thinkers and agents of change: “Knowledge is an act of freedom, an act of emancipation… Do not set small goals, but aim to change the world.”

Recalling the story of Malala Yousafzai, he said: “She showed that even one person, with a big heart and unwavering will, can ignite a new era.”

Concluding with a quote from Albanian poet Migjeni — “A light, a light is fading for me, at the end of the dark horizon…” — Mexhiti added: “I hope that each of you will not merely observe this light, but become its source.”

Mr. Süleyman Karakuş, President of the IBU Alumni and Member Association, also addressed the graduates, encouraging them to stay connected to the university and support each other as part of a lifelong academic community.

The event was marked by joy, pride, and reflection, as IBU reaffirmed its role in fostering knowledge, tolerance, and regional cooperation.