Ivona Leskur, MA
Research Trainee
Education
PhD Studies in Sociology
University of Belgrade, Faculty of Philosophy
2023 – Ongoing
Master’s Studies in Sociology
University of Belgrade, Faculty of Philosophy
2020 – 2023
Master’s Thesis: “Information and Communication Technologies and Urban Sustainable
Development: Implementation of the Smart City Concept in Serbia”
Bachelor’s Studies in Sociology
University of Belgrade, Faculty of Philosophy
2015 – 2020
Areas of Interest
Digital Sociology, Urban Sociology, Sustainable Development, Environmental Politics, International
Relations
Publications
- Leskur, I. (2024). Digital security in the Indo-Pacific: Assessing the impact of China’s Digital Silk Road. In K. V. Kumar, N. Slama, & M. Das (Eds.), Global Geopolitical Impacts and Dynamics of the Indo-Pacific (pp. 61–82). IGI Global. DOI: 10.4018/979-8-3693-1690-0.ch003
- Leskur, I. (2024). Security challenges of smart cities: Cybersecurity and data privacy in strategic-legal frameworks from a sociological perspective. In: Marić, J., & Marković, J. (Eds.), Proceedings of the Third Scientific Conference “Urban Security and Urban Development.” University of Belgrade, Faculty of Security Studies and Faculty of Architecture. ISBN 978-86-80144-65-8 https://fb.bg.ac.rs/download/Biblioteka/PosebnaIzdanja/2024-UBUR.pdf
Awards
Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship Fund (SYLFF) Scholarship
2025
Nippon Foundation and the Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research
Embassy of Japan in Serbia and JTI Serbia Award
2021
Recipient of the 10th Sakura Scholarship for the research proposal “Japanese Smart
Cities as a Model for Sustainable Development in Serbia – A Comparative Case Study of
Valjevo and Yokohama”
Ministry of European Integration, Government of the Republic of Serbia Award
2021
Third place in the competition for the best student research papers on the relationship
between Serbia and the EU, with the topic “A Small Step for Man, a Giant Leap for
Mankind: Serbia’s Advantages in Overcoming Pandemic Consequences and Achieving a
Sustainable Future”
Professional Development
Participant of the Forum “China-Europe Relations in the Next 50 Years” Youth Dialogue
Institute of European Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
11. 11. – 18. 11. 2025.
Hangzhou and Beijing
Guest Lecturer
Vivekananda Global University
17. 2. 2025.
Jaipur, India
Regional School for Political Development Project
April – November 2024
BFPE Foundation for a Responsible Society (Serbia), Academy for Political
Development (Croatia), and Center for Research and Public Policy Creation (North
Macedonia)
Scholarship recipient
Winter School of International Relations
February – March 2024
Institute of International Politics and Economics, Belgrade, Serbia
Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), Institute of
International Studies
October – December 2023
Scholarship recipient, “InteRussia Fellowship Programme” in Moscow
Conference Presentations
28th World Congress of the International Political ScienceAssociation (IPSA) “Autocratization in Polarized Societies”
12.07.‑ 16.07.2025.
Seoul, Republic of Korea
Speaker and author of the research paper “The Cost of Digital Transformation: Environmental Trade‑Offs and Resource Independence in the EU’s Twin Digital and Green Agenda: The Case of Lithium Mining in Serbia” on the panel “Innovative Technological AI and Methods for Sustainable Development”
Discussant on the panel “Climate Politics and Regionalism in Europe”
Third Scientific Conference “Urban Security and Urban Development”
July 1, 2024, Faculty of Architecture, Belgrade
Organizers: Faculty of Architecture and Faculty of Security Studies, University of
Belgrade
Presented research topic: “Security Challenges of Smart Cities – Cybersecurity and Data
Privacy in Strategic-Legal Frameworks from a Sociological Perspective”
Membership in Professional Organizations
- International Sociological Association (ISA), WG10 Digital Sociology
- International Political Science Association (IPSA)
Languages
English (C2 level)
German (B2 level, DAAD Certificate)
Biography
Ivona Leskur is a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade. She
completed her Bachelor’s studies in Sociology at the same faculty in 2020, with a GPA of 9.42
and an additional 19 ECTS credits. In the same year, she enrolled in the Master’s program in
Sociology at the University of Belgrade, focusing on sustainable development. She defended her
Master’s thesis on the topic “Information and Communication Technologies and Urban
Sustainable Development: Implementation of the Smart City Concept in Serbia” in 2023 with a
grade of 10. During her undergraduate studies, she was a recipient of scholarships from the
Ministry of Education and the Municipality of Valjevo, as well as the German Academic
Exchange Service (DAAD) for studying the German language in Germany. During her Master’s
studies, she was awarded by the Ministry of European Integration and the Embassy of Japan in
Serbia for the best student research papers. The embassy award also included a study visit to Japan in November 2022. After completing her Master’s studies, she received a scholarship from
the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) for the fall semester of 2023.
During this time, she participated in international conferences and conducted research at the
Institute of International Studies at the mentioned university. She works as a research trainee at
the Institute for European Studies in Belgrade, primarily focusing on topics related to digital and
urban sociology, linking them with international relations and current geopolitical events.