Opening Ceremony of BISTLAB | Balkan Economy and Finance Laboratory at the International Balkan University

On October 28th, 2025, the International Balkan University officially inaugurated BISTLAB | Balkan Economy and Finance Laboratory within the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, established in cooperation with Borsa İstanbul Inc. The International Balkan University is honored to host BISTLAB, the first of its kind in North Macedonia, as the international partner institution! The opening ceremony gathered representatives from the government, academia, financial institutions, and the business community, including addresses by the Assoc. Prof. Liza Allili Sulejmani, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Science, Prof. Dr. Lutfi Sunar, Rector of IBU; Recep Süleyman Özdil, President of the IBU Management Board; 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 Science at IBU. 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 agenda featured keynote addresses, the official ribbon-cutting ceremony, and a student demonstration under the Virtual Trading Simulation Game organized in cooperation with the Macedonian Stock Exchange. The event concluded with a networking session, highlighting IBU’s commitment to fostering partnerships that advance education, technology, and sustainable economic growth.