The Tuzla Summer Institute

The Tuzla Summer Institutes teach practical skills that help young people succeed in their academic studies, their professional careers and their roles as citizens in a secular multi-ethnic and democratic society.

Open to all cultures and faiths, the summer institute brings together over 200 youth from throughout the Tuzla region. With an international staff from throughout the world, the summer institutes teach business, information technology, organizational and English language skills to high school and university students.

Inspired teachers, enthusiastic participants

The Tuzla Summer Institute constitutes a unique experience for both students and teachers and the institutes combine academic choice and practical education in a highly diverse cultural setting. Students are entirely free to choose only the courses they want to take. Teachers are free to create their own courses teaching practical skills that are of immediate benefit of the students.

Building common ground, a shared future

What makes the summer institutes an especially valuable program is that it takes place in a country that has suffered through a genocidal war and extreme nationalism resulting in endemic ethnic tensions and economic stagnation. The summer institutes set an example of people from all of Bosnia's main cultural groups sharing mutual respect while creating a better future for themselves.

Diverse and strong partnerships

The Islamic Community/Behram-begova medresa implements the Tuzla Summer Institute with support from the Catholic School Center and BILD. The idea of the Tuzla Summer Institute started in 2008 when Reis Husein Kavazović visited Cornell University. The first Tuzla Summer Institute then commenced in July 2009.


Students learning software programming at the Tuzla Summer Institute.

Male / Female breakdown of the summer institutes

Lillian Aoki teaching graphic design skills at the
Tuzla Summer Institute