In northern Kosovo, the International Business College Mitrovica (IBCM) has emerged as a beacon of unity, serving as a shared space for Albanian, Serbian, and other students. This college, which teaches in English, challenges the notion that integration is impossible in a region historically divided along ethnic lines.
Fresh from her sociology lecture, Tijana Radomirovic joined her team for project work. The team was a mix of Serbs, like Radomirovic, Albanians, and Bosniaks, with English as the working language. IBCM is strategically located on the municipal border between the northern and southern parts of Mitrovica, aiming to bridge the divides between ethnic groups.
Founded in 2005 by the Dutch NGO SPARK, which supports education in conflict-affected regions, IBCM opened its doors in 2010. Initially, the college mirrored the city's division, with Serbs in the north and Albanians in the south. However, in 2017, IBCM took a significant step toward integration, allowing students from both sides to attend classes based on faculty, not ethnicity. This move has shown that even in a divided town, integration is possible.
This is the kind of progress we need to see more of in the Balkans. Let's hope IBCM's example inspires other institutions to follow suit. Can we finally put ethnic divisions behind us and move forward together?