Center for Türkiye Studies Established in Skopje through Cooperation between Turkish Maarif Foundation and IBU

September 04, 2026

A Center for Türkiye Studies has been established in Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia, through cooperation between Turkish Maarif Foundation and International Balkan University (IBU). Operating under IBU, the center will serve as a research platform where academic studies on Türkiye will be conducted through an interdisciplinary approach.

The center’s areas of activity have been structured within a broad academic framework addressing Türkiye from multiple perspectives. Research is planned on Türkiye’s domestic and foreign policy, public policies and regional relations, as well as on economy, trade, investment, development and regional integration. Turkish language and culture, cultural diplomacy, education policies, teacher education and comparative education will also be among the center’s priority areas of study. Research on Türkiye is intended to be approached from a multidimensional perspective, drawing on contributions from disciplines such as history, sociology, media and communication, and law.

The center will also develop cooperation with the existing academic programs in the fields of Turkish language and education at International Balkan University. The undergraduate programs in Turkish Language Teaching and Turkish Primary Education, together with the master’s programs in Turkish Language and Literature and Turkish Language Education, are planned to be integrated with the center’s research, project and publication activities. The PhD program in Turkish Language and Literature is also expected to contribute to the center’s academic work.

In order to provide Türkiye studies with a more systematic academic foundation at the postgraduate level, International Balkan University also plans to launch a Master’s Program in Türkiye Studies in the coming period. The program is intended to operate in close academic interaction with the center’s research activities.

Academic publishing will also be one of the center’s main areas of activity. Plans include establishing book series on Türkiye studies under Balkan University Press and, in the medium to long term, launching a peer-reviewed academic journal dedicated to the field.

The Türkiye Studies Centers established by Turkish Maarif Foundation in different countries not only support the production of academic knowledge on Türkiye but also provide a platform for developing joint research among scholars. Within this framework, the centers aim to develop research projects and thematic working groups, strengthen international research networks, produce data and reports, and prepare policy briefs on current issues concerning Türkiye and related regions.