One mobility, more than research on inclusion | Antonio Topalović, PhD candidate

Antonio Topalović, PhD candidate
Home institution: University of Sarajevo, Department of Pedagogy
Mobility: Philipps-Universität Marburg, Germany

One mobility, more than research on inclusion

Sometimes an academic journey leads further than expected—not only through research, but through encounters, exchange, and new understandings.

For Antonio Topalović, a PhD candidate at the University of Sarajevo, his stay at Philipps-Universität Marburg within the EUPeace doctoral mobility was exactly that kind of experience. What began as a continuation of his dissertation work evolved into a space of intensive learning, collaboration, and professional growth.

The focus of his research—an inclusive organizational culture—gained a new dimension in an international academic environment. Through collaboration with mentors and researchers, as well as access to extensive libraries and digital databases, the theoretical concepts he is developing were further deepened and connected to concrete practices. Questions of workplace learning, ethics-based diversity management, and participatory approaches became part of a broader dialogue that extends beyond a single institution.

However, the mobility was not only about individual research.

By delivering a lecture within the International Perspectives on Inclusion project, as well as visiting educational and research institutions, he engaged in the exchange of experiences and good practices. Conversations with colleagues and experts enabled him to view inclusion from multiple perspectives—academic, institutional, and practical.

A particularly significant component of the mobility was the comparative analysis of Educational Sciences curricula between Philipps-Universität Marburg and the University of Sarajevo. Through this process, similarities and differences were identified, opening opportunities for curriculum development, joint courses, and strengthened academic cooperation.

The mobility thus became more than a research stay.

It became a platform for connection - of ideas, institutions, and people.

This experience further strengthened his doctoral research while also opening doors for future joint initiatives between the University of Sarajevo and Philipps-Universität Marburg. Perspectives were broadened, and the research gained new depth.

Because sometimes, through mobility, science becomes what it truly is - a shared space of understanding, dialogue, and transformation.