Education Diplomacy as a Bridge: Bosnia and Herzegovina Hosts “Learn about LEARN” Networking Event in London
Diplomats and universities strengthen cooperation through international education dialogue
February 26th, 2026
On 6 February 2026, the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in London hosted a networking event titled “Learn about LEARN,” organized in cooperation with the London Education and Research Network (LEARN) and the Embassy Network. The gathering brought together education attachés—diplomats responsible for academic cooperation—as well as representatives of leading higher education institutions and organizations across the United Kingdom. Designed to strengthen collaboration between diplomatic missions and British educational stakeholders, the event highlighted Bosnia and Herzegovina’s growing engagement in international education diplomacy, an increasingly important dimension of soft power and multilateral cooperation.
Opening the event, Ambassador Osman Topčagić welcomed participants and underscored the strategic importance of education diplomacy in contemporary international relations. He emphasized Bosnia and Herzegovina’s longstanding educational tradition and highlighted the achievements of Bosnian students and scholars studying and conducting research in the United Kingdom. By referencing the country’s intellectual heritage and continued academic presence abroad, the Ambassador situated educational exchange within broader Bosnia and Herzegovina–United Kingdom relations, noting how academic mobility contributes to mutual understanding, innovation partnerships, and long-term institutional ties between societies.
Samra Koričić Mujkić, First Secretary at the Embassy and current President of LEARN, presented an overview of the network’s activities and development since its founding in 2015. She outlined LEARN’s role as a platform connecting education attachés with British universities and policymakers, emphasizing that international education has gained renewed strategic relevance in the United Kingdom not only as an economic sector but also as a diplomatic and cultural bridge. Elizabeth Stewart, Director of Embassy Network, reinforced this perspective by highlighting over a decade of cooperation between Embassy Network and LEARN, describing the partnership as a successful model linking diplomatic communities with higher education institutions. Representatives from organizations including Universities UK International, UCAS, the Institute of Higher Education, and the Oxford Diplomatic Society participated in discussions on future cooperation and upcoming sector initiatives.
A notable contribution came from Nedim Sladić, LEARN’s first student ambassador and a Bosnian international student in the United Kingdom, who shared personal experiences navigating academic opportunities and challenges. Drawing on his academic journey—from a Chevening master’s programme in Reading to doctoral studies at the University of Leicester—he emphasized the importance of networks that connect students, embassies, and universities. The networking session that followed enabled participants to exchange professional experiences, explore collaborative projects, and strengthen institutional contacts, reinforcing LEARN’s function as a bridge between diplomatic missions and academic communities.
The “Learn about LEARN” event demonstrated how education diplomacy serves as a powerful instrument of cultural engagement, enabling countries to build influence through knowledge exchange, academic mobility, and institutional cooperation. By positioning Bosnia and Herzegovina as an active participant in international education dialogue, the initiative contributes to broader diplomatic objectives, including strengthening bilateral relations with the United Kingdom and enhancing participation in global academic networks. In the long term, sustained engagement in higher education diplomacy is expected to deepen research partnerships, expand opportunities for students and scholars, and reinforce Bosnia and Herzegovina’s international profile as a committed partner in knowledge-based cooperation.
