by Havva Karakas Keles
In September 2026, European Union Center (EUC) Associate Director Havva Karakas Keles embarked on a productive business trip to Italy and Austria, reinforcing the University of Illinois’ historic ties and cultivating new institutional collaborations across Europe.
Deepening Transatlantic and Institutional Partnerships in Bologna
The journey began in Italy, focusing on deepening structural relationships with the oldest university in the Western world: the University of Bologna. Karakas Keles met with Professor Raffaella Campaner, Vice Rector for International Relations, to discuss future institutional partnerships and robust student exchange agreements. She also connected with Antonio Fiori from the Department of Political and Social Sciences to discuss student mobility, collaboration between the two institutions, and other programmatic initiatives.
During her time in Bologna, Karakas Keles had the wonderful opportunity to meet with Anne L. Seshadri, Cultural Attaché, and Alberto Benvenuti, Cultural Specialist, from the U.S. Embassy in Rome during their campus visit on September 3rd, 2026. This meeting was particularly meaningful as it took place while we are celebrating America's 250th birthday, beautifully highlighting transatlantic support for international education and collaboration.
Advancing Academic Exchange and Sustainability in Vienna
The visit to the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU) highlighted both institutional planning and student campus life, underscoring the vital role the Illinois in Vienna Programs play in providing students with comprehensive on-site support and deep cultural immersion. Alexandra Pfefferle, Director of the Illinois in Vienna Programs, and Bruce Murray provided a guided tour of the striking, modern WU campus. In addition to experiencing the campus environment, Karakas Keles met with Lukas Hefner, Head of the International Office, and Kaan Tasli. The primary purpose of the meeting was to build partnerships, discuss institutional collaborations, and deliberately expand opportunities for faculty and student mobility. Their discussion focused on strengthening the frameworks that support collaborative research and teaching and creating robust exchange pipelines between the two campuses. Karakas Keles also met with Madeleine Pühringer, International Project Leader for the Sustainability Challenge, to hear her present the latest updates and progress on this vital global sustainability initiative and explore potential avenues for collaborative involvement.
The Vienna segment beautifully balanced academic diplomacy with community building. Karakas Keles had the opportunity to join the Illinois in Vienna Programs’ Fall cohort on a scenic boat tour of the Danube River, witnessing firsthand the transformative study abroad experience enjoyed by Illinois students under the guidance of the local program team. Cultural exploration and sightseeing throughout the historic city further underscored the rich, supportive environment awaiting future exchange students, marking a successful conclusion to a week dedicated to elevating global engagement for the University of Illinois community.
Comments
Post a Comment