The Society for Applied Linguistics in Bosnia and Herzegovina (SALinBiH)
Founded on September 28, 2018
Faculty of Philosophy, University of Sarajevo
SALinBiH (The Society for Applied linguistics in Bosnia and Herzegovina) is a new association of applied linguistics in this country. It was founded on 28 September 2018 at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Sarajevo.
Dr. Merima Osmankadić, associate professor in the English Department, University of Sarajevo, has been elected President of the Society, Dr. Izabela Dankić, full professor in the English Department, University of Mostar, Vice-President, and Dr. Larisa Kasumagić-Kafedžić, assistant professor in the English Department, University of Sarajevo, Secretary.
SALinBiH will pursue the following objectives: contributing to the promotion of applied linguistics in Bosnia and Herzegovina, engaging young scholars and researchers in the activities relating to various fields within applied linguistics, actively engaging through scientific research and projects in solving problems related to language and society, language and education, language policy, language and identity, and language and nationalism in Bosnia and Herzegovina, stimulating regional and international cooperation, and assisting practitioners in the field of applied linguistics through seminars, conferences and projects.
The first activity of SALinBiH is the organization of AILA Europe Junior Researcher Meeting at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Sarajevo, on 26-28 September 2019. The call for papers and posters will be open as from December 2018.
In preparation for the new association of applied linguistics, applied linguists in Bosnia and Herzegovina organized two symposiums in the course of 2017 led by Professor Bernd Rüschoff, the acting Past President of AILA, and Professor Daniel Perrin, the acting President of AILA, on the general topic Current Research Frameworks & Paradigms in Applied Linguistics: Educational and Professional Contexts.
The first symposium was held on 17 February 2017 at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Sarajevo. In his key-note lecture and workshops, Professor Rüschoff from the University of Duisburg-Essen focused on current research and paradigms in applied linguistics in educational contexts, with a group of applied linguists from Bosnia and Herzegovina presenting posters on their current research in the field (Željka Babić, University of Banja Luka, Alma Jahić, University of Tuzla, and Merima Osmankadić and Larisa Kasumagić-Kafedžić, University of Sarajevo).
The second symposium was held on 30 September 2017 by Professor Daniel Perrin from Zurich University of Applied Sciences, with the focus on current research and paradigms in applied linguistics in professional contexts. On that occassion Professor Perrin held one key-note lecture, two workshops and one colloquium for the audience of academics and students in the field of applied linguistics in Bosnia and Herzegovina.