Western Balkans Ministerial Meeting: Enhancing Collaboration
From 29 September to 1 October 2024, the Ministerial Meeting of the Western Balkans Platforms on Research and Innovation, Education and Training, and Culture took place in Skopje, North Macedonia, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel. This event gathered key stakeholders from the Western Balkans and the European Union to foster dialogue and collaboration on critical regional priorities.
The Western Balkans Alumni Association (WBAA) was represented by its Regional Board Members, Milan Stojanovic and Dejan Galovski, alongside WBAA member Renata Petrevska Nechkoska, Associate Professor at the University St Kliment Ohridski (UKLO), the first WBAA head of research team.
Ms Nechkoska’s active participation in the roundtable discussion on the multi-stakeholder approach to digital education was particularly notable, emphasising the importance of digital transformation in education across the region. She highlighted the synergies of the WBAA alumni with the European University Alliances, including activities held with ‘Collaborative Innovative Sustainable Regional Universities’ (COLOURS), as an example of good practice. She also cited the WBAA Tracer study as a valuable tool for policymakers and universities across the Balkans and EU, providing insights into teaching, research and higher education systems, and identifying areas for improvement.
Mr Stojanovic and Mr Galovski used the opportunity to meet with higher education stakeholders from Serbia and North Macedonia, building vital connections for the continued development of education, research, and innovation across the Western Balkans.
WBAA members also met with the European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Iliana Ivanova. Ms Ivanova acknowledged the association and the effort of the alumni across the Western Balkans who contribute to the synergies with the European countries, but also strengthen the regional development.
This was further enriched by engaging discussions with Antoaneta Angelova-Krasteva, Director for Innovation, Digital Education and International Cooperation at the European Commission. The WBAA team joined them for a Western Balkans-EU family photo, marking the strong partnership between the region and the EU.
The meeting agenda was rich with discussions on synergies between education and innovation, digital education strategies, smart specialisation, and the protection of cultural heritage. WBAA’s participation underscores the association’s role in advancing the region’s educational and cultural sectors through cross-border collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
Milan Stojanovic, milan.stojanovic@western-balkans-alumni.eu
Renata Petrevska Nechkoska, renata.petrevska@uklo.edu.mk
Novi Sad and Skopje, 01.10.2024
Edited by the Erasmus+ Support Service Team
