The second edition of the international conference on digital transformation in education and applications of artificial intelligence, "MoStart," organized by the Center for Information Technology SUMIT and the University of Mostar, gathered more than 850 registered participants. Over 190 speakers from Bosnia and the surrounding region covered more than 80 topics in the fields of education, science, and IT within the context of digitalization and artificial intelligence. The conference also involved over 30 public institutions and 135 schools following the Croatian language curriculum.
"If we consider that this is our second conference, the numbers are impressive. I am particularly proud that the conference was free for professors and students of the University of Mostar, as well as all teachers, thanks to the cooperation with relevant ministries, institutes, partners, and sponsors," said Prof. Dr. Tomislav Volarić, Assistant Rector for Information Technology and Innovation and President of the Conference Organizing Committee. He emphasized that the conference is one of the activities contributing to the digital vision and mission of the University. The support from partners, not only to the conference but also to our other projects, motivates us to elevate the conference each year, all in the service of the digital transformation in education and the digital transformation of our country, Bosnia and Herzegovina," Volarić added.
The third day of the conference "MoStart" was dedicated to IT professionals, attracting a large number of developers, engineers, IT companies, and IT experts. Developers and engineers had the opportunity to learn about the latest trends and technologies in information technology, as well as to connect with the technology enthusiast community and global IT companies. Interesting lectures, panels, and interviews covered topics such as IT salaries, achieving a million reach on LinkedIn, and our position as geniuses on the global IT scene.
Mustafa Toroman and Zlatko Kovačić, exceptional entrepreneurs, shared their experiences of transforming their ideas into serious businesses through an interactive panel discussion with the audience. They introduced participants to the processes and challenges they encountered in building their startup projects. Thematic lectures were also part of the IT day's program, covering topics such as data security in the digital world, presented by renowned IT expert and CEO of Wire, Alan Đurić. On the other hand, Dragan Petric, an influencer and editor of the most famous technology portal in the region, Bug.hr, discussed the business potential offered by LinkedIn.
''LinkedIn is a social network where organic reach is greater than the number of followers and connections we have on our private profile. Therefore, do something no one has done before. Present yourself in a real light, with your individual characteristics and your unique style," Petric advised.
The IT day's program featured an interesting interview with Tajana Barančić, an analyst of the regional IT market, discussing IT salaries, and a segment called Blitz-Pitch aimed at encouraging young people towards innovation and creativity. This inspiring session, moderated by Bojan Mušćet, IT analyst, and consultant, presented some of the most creative and ambitious student projects stemming from young minds, showing that the future of technological innovation lies in the hands of the youth.
The Scientific day provided an opportunity for professors, researchers, and doctoral students to exchange experiences and learn about the latest trends and applied technologies of artificial intelligence in education, research, and science. The scientific program included a workshop titled "Enhanced knowledge assessment through natural language processing, conceptual maps, and digital flashcards technology" aimed at doctoral students, a lecture by retired professor from the University of Tokyo, Prof. Dr. Koiti Hasida, on the topic of graphs improving students' critical thinking skills, and a panel discussion on the challenges and possibilities of applying artificial intelligence in the educational process. Like previous years, the authors of the best papers will have the opportunity to publish their work as part of the prestigious book series "Communications in Computer and Information Science" published by the renowned publisher Springer. In addition to publication in the book series, the best papers also have the opportunity for publication in the prestigious journal SN Computer Science, also published by Springer. This double opportunity for international visibility provided the author teams with additional motivation and value in presenting their scientific findings, indicating that the conference continues to promote high standards in scientific research by offering researchers a valuable platform for the exchange of knowledge and ideas.
Public administration and security were also topics discussed at the conference. A panel on public administration reform, specifically electronic business entity registration, featured prominent figures from the legal and governmental spheres. Additionally, cybersecurity in Bosnia and Herzegovina, state plans, and initiatives were discussed by experts in the field.
This year, the educational part of the conference took place in several formats, including over 90 speakers, more than 15 lectures, several workshops, and panels. Participants had the opportunity to engage in workshops such as the SUM AI workshop for teachers, where they learned how to apply artificial intelligence tools to assist in creating teaching materials, and workshops on creating educational 3D models, where participants were introduced to the basics of 3D modeling, including various software tools and techniques used in the modeling process. The panel "Super-educators - catalysts of the digital future" featured educators from various regions, highlighting their innovative approaches to teaching. The conference "MoStart" was supported and recognized by numerous partners, experts in the field of digital technologies, and government representatives, further confirming its importance and relevance in the global context of education and technological advancement. Notable speakers included Hrvoje Puljiz, Director of the Croatian Academic and Research Network (CARNet), Paul Rouse on behalf of the international European network GÉANT, and Lidija Bradara, President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The central lecture was delivered by Dr. Siniša Grgić, Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to the Kingdom of Sweden and Latvia, who spoke about the synergy of artificial intelligence, big data, and social network analysis.
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