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The editors and board members responsible for Balkan Research Journal.
Editor-in-Chief
Marijana Klemenchich is Assistant Professor at the English Language Teaching Department at International Balkan University, Skopje, North Macedonia. Klemenchich is the Coordinator for Language and Culture at the Balkan Research Center and was the coordinator of the Speaking Program at IBU for two years. She is the Internship Coordinator for the ELT students. Marijana Klemenchich teaches English language methodology courses, ESP courses and culture-related subjects. She has earned her MA in Philology and a PhD in Cultural Studies at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje. Klemenchich is a CELTA certified teacher and has more than 20 years of teaching experience. Areas of interest include Cultural studies, Methodology, Philology and Literature.
Secretariat
Sonaj Bilal is a Teaching Assistant at the PCG Department at International Balkan University, Skopje, North Macedonia, holding a master's degree in psychology from the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje. She has an extensive experience in the NGO sector, specifically in developing Training Programs for strengthening the competencies of primary and secondary school teachers, pre-school teachers and school pedagogues and psychologists, as well as in conducting educational trainings and workshops. She is fluent in four languages and is committed to facilitating positive learning experiences and fostering inclusive environments.
Editorial Board
Zübeyde Sinem Genç is a full Professor at the Department of English Language Teaching, Faculty of Education, Bursa Uludağ University, Türkiye, where she teaches graduate and undergraduate courses. She has conducted research projects and published articles in national and international journals and book chapters in various books by international publishers including Cambridge University Press, John Benjamins, Wiley, TESOL, Peter Lang, and Springer. She has received her PhD. from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), English Department, specializing in TESOL and composition. She taught English for academic purposes at American Language Institute at IUP and graduate courses in MA TESOL Program at Southern Illinois University. Her professional interests include pre- and in-service language teacher education, theory and practice in language teaching methodology, use of technology in foreign language teaching, and second language acquisition.
Marija Stevkovska is Assistant professor of English and Applied Linguistics at International Balkan University in Skopje, North Macedonia. She teaches EFL, ESP and linguistics courses at the English language teaching department at IBU. She is actively involved in the work of IBU Balkan Research Center and IBU Teaching and Learning Center. She earned her MA and PhD in applied linguistics and ELT methodology at Ss Cyril and Methodius University, in Skopje. Her work experience of over 20 years includes teaching English to students of all ages, working as a director of studies in several private language schools, as well as coordinating the English language school at IBU. Her fields of interest are: second language acquisition, contrastive analysis and EFL methodology.
Nurdan Kavaklı-Ulutaş received her Ph.D. degree in English Language Teaching at Hacettepe University. She is currently a full-time academic at the department of English Language Teaching at Izmir Demokrasi University. She divides her loyalties between teaching undergraduate and graduate classes, and academic research. She has book chapters, and articles published in national and international academic journals. She has coordinated or participated in the steering committees of several national and international education projects. Her research interests include language teacher education, language testing and assessment, and language attrition.
Sonja Stojmenska-Elzeser is Senior Research Fellow and Professor at the Institute of Macedonian Literature, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje. Her research interests are: comparative literature, cultural studies, cultural geography, Slavic and Macedonian studies. She has published several books of essays and literary criticism and has edited many scientific publications. She is editor of the review for comparative literature and cultural research Context. Her publications include Comparative Literature: Reader, Theories of Otherness (2007), Equilibrium (2009), With Dedication (2013), Not-everyday Curiosities (2018), Literary Binocular (2022), etc.
Tatjana Glušac is a full professor of Applied Linguistics at the Department of English, Faculty of Law and Business Studies "Dr. Lazar Vrkatić", Serbia. Her main research interests include foreign language teachers' formal education and professional development, foreign language teacher as a factor in SLA, critical thinking, and foreign language assessment. Tatjana has authored four books and published a number of articles on the topics listed.
Marianthi (Marianna) Karatsiori is a lecturer/researcher at Educational and social policy department at the University of Macedonia, Greece. Her main interests are teacher education, foreign language learning, digital pedagogies and Gen AI in education, educational policy guidance and reform. Marianthi coordinates European projects on improving inclusion for students with challenges and on enhancing educators' professional development. Her background also includes roles at the Ministry of Education and the Institute of Educational policy in Greece and UNESCO's International Bureau of Education. She has written books and published articles in international journals and conference proceedings about education reforms, teacher training, innovative methods of teaching and learning, quality in education etc.
Prof.Dr. Mevludin IBISH is born in Skopje, North Macedonia. He has finished his bachelor degree in the Faculty of Law, department of Political Sciences at the University of St. Cyril and Methodius (2006), Skopje, Macedonia. He got his master degree in the University of Bologna, Faculty of Political Sciences (2009), Italy and he achieved his PhD degree in the Faculty of Law (2014), Novi Pazar University, Serbia.
He is a Full Professor at the International Balkan University, Skopje, North Macedonia. In the same University, he was the Vice Rector for Education, Academic Affairs and Institutions for more than three years between 2015-2016 and 2022-2024. He was a Professor at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University-Turkiye, department of Political Science and International Relations (2015-2020). He is also the founder of the Balkan Research Center within International Balkan University (2023).
His expertise of research and analyses are the Balkans, Turkiye, the region of Caucasus and the Middle East, given a special attention to new political and regional concepts, political history, political parties, society, religion and political systems.
He has written articles, reports and Op-Eds as well as has given interviews to several media on the Balkans, Turkiye, the Middle East and EU politics: with regard to their political developments, integration, democratization, civil-military relations and political culture.
He has participated in many regional and international conferences as well as panels referring to the Balkans and their relationship with Turkiye, Balkan politics and its development, International Relations and the Middle East, and the EU policies over the Balkans.
Mevludin IBISH is also involved in discussions and analyses that evolve in the international relations with special focus to the decline of liberalism and the reinforcement of realism and defensive realism, as well as observing the role of the International Organizations in the world political dynamics.
Professor Mevludin IBISH with his expertise is also engaged in the private sector and holds the position of the CEO Advisor in the regional company Dauti (2011). He is also a Board member at ALBIZ Foundation (2013) and he is a Co-founder of Solicy, a consultancy Agency (2022).
Mevludin IBISH speaks eight languages, lives in Skopje, North Macedonia; he is married and has three children.
Seyhan Murtezan İbrahimi, Assistant Prof. at the Faculty of Education and Vice rector for Education at IBU. Has PhD in humanities - comparative literature, and she is professor of Turkish literature, though she has additional expertise in the field of migration and exile in the literature works. Her competencies involve relevant knowledge in the domain of multicultural and intercultural education as well. She has been part of various projects and training activities. Among them can be stressed out the Erasmus+ Projects: “In the Geography of Heart with the Same Authors” that promoted Youth Workers Mobility and Youth Exchange, the project “In digital transformation priority is nature” and the project “Development of technical and social competences of youth work”. She has also been part of activities conducted by different local NGOs, that promoted the writing and reading skills of youth. Author and co-author of several books, scientific papers and journal editor.
Liza Alili Sulejmani is a Dean and Associate Professor at the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, at International Balkan University. Main expertise in Advanced Economics, Public Finance, Environmental economics and Econometrics. In addition, she has experience in conducting training in several research institutions and organizations. In addition, has also been engaged in providing workshops, webinars and seminars nationally and internationally. In addition, has experience in working in international projects, as well as working in a multicultural environment. She is author of two books, three editorial books and more than twenty research papers in the area of macroeconomics and finance as well as participated in many international conferences and seminars.
Elena Parnardzieva Stanoevska – Assistant Professor at FEAS, IBU, in the Banking and Finance Department. She has over 25 years of experience in academia, public administration, and the financial sector. Her expertise includes finance, banking, insurance, risk management, e-economy, business planning, and digital transformation. She has participated in numerous national and international projects and is the author and co-author of scientific papers and reports in finance and banking. ORCID
Relevant scope: Banking and financial institutions; Financial markets, corporate finance, and investment analysis; Financial risk management and sustainability; Digital transformation, fintech, and data analytics in economics and management.