BullyBuster Strengthens International Collaboration with Istanbul Galata University

On 29 June, Dr. Giulia Orrù (Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Cagliari) and Prof. Cristina Cabras (Department of Pedagogy, Psychology and Philosophy, University of Cagliari) met with Prof. Eyyüb Ensari Cicerali, Head of the Department of Psychology at Istanbul Galata University (Turkey), to present the BullyBuster project and explore opportunities for scientific collaboration in the fields of psychology and artificial intelligence.

Prof. Cicerali, Associate Professor of Social, Work and Organizational Psychology, shared his expertise in psychological assessment and behavioural modelling, fostering a fruitful discussion on how validated psychological theories and models can support the development of AI-based systems for the prevention and early detection of bullying and cyberbullying.

During the meeting, Dr. Orrù and Prof. Cabras illustrated the interdisciplinary approach that characterizes BullyBuster, integrating artificial intelligence, psychology, behavioural sciences and legal expertise to develop trustworthy and explainable technologies for schools and educational communities.

Particular attention was devoted to the role of psychological modelling in the design of intelligent systems capable of identifying behavioural risk indicators, interpreting social interactions and supporting preventive actions. The discussion also addressed future research opportunities aimed at incorporating advanced psychological models into AI algorithms, further strengthening the scientific foundations of BullyBuster technologies.

The meeting represents an important step in expanding the international research network of the BullyBuster Interuniversity Research Centre, fostering collaboration with leading experts in psychology and reinforcing the Centre’s commitment to developing human-centred and interdisciplinary AI solutions for the prevention of bullying and cyberbullying.