CONNECT: A Student-Centered Conference Model for Dialogue, Mentorship and Interdisciplinary Exchange

Abstract

The CONNECT conference series was established as an alternative academic format designed to strengthen connectivity, trust, and opportunity within the Western Balkans, with a particular emphasis on students and early-career researchers. Rather than following traditional conference models focused on finalized research results and hierarchical presentation structures, CONNECT prioritizes dialogue, participation, and collaborative learning. Through interactive formats, including World Café discussions and project-based teamwork, students are positioned as active contributors to academic and societal discourse. This manuscript outlines the guiding philosophy of CONNECT, its emphasis on student-centered engagement, interdisciplinary exchange, and long-term community building, as well as the role of international academic networks and institutional support, particularly from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD; Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst). The article further contextualizes CONNECT 2025, held in August 2025 in Neum, Bosnia and Herzegovina, which focused on the integration of Western Balkan research communities into the European Research Area. The contributions collected in this special issue reflect personal, institutional, and thematic perspectives shaped by participation in CONNECT 2025, highlighting inclusive academic practices and regional cooperation.