The rector of “St. Cyril and Methodius” prof. Dr. Biljana Angelova and Prof. Dr. Ognen Marina, dean of the Faculty of Architecture – Skopje and head of the Center for Advanced and Postdoctoral Research – CAPRIS UKIM participated in the 8th Rector’s Forum of Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans, which was held in the Rectorate of the University of Sarajevo from May 30 to 31, 2024 year. The forum unites universities from the region and aims to improve and expand cooperation between universities in this part of Europe.

On the first day of the Rector’s Forum, a forum was organized on the future of the university. Prof. Dr. Biljana Angelova, rector of the University “St. Cyril and Methodius” in Skopje had his address at the panel discussion on the future of universities in Europe. She emphasized that “people’s readiness and capacity for change, in addition to digitization and facing demographic challenges, are the main prerequisite for a better future for our universities.” The first day of the forum was also used to sign the Agreement on the establishment of a regional network of centers for advanced studies in Southeast Europe (RECAS – Regional Network of Centers for Advanced Studies in Southeast Europe) in order to improve cooperation in scientific, academic and professional areas of common interest for all participating universities.

The second day of the Rector’s Forum was dedicated to the fourth workshop for the EUTOPIA project for the Western Balkans, the purpose of which is the financing of research activities at the international, state and institutional level.

Founded in 2018, the Rector’s Forum of Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans unites 31 universities from the region. The Rector’s Forum of Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans is dedicated to improving cooperation between universities and strengthening the voice of academic institutions in this part of Europe, solving key issues, promoting European policy in higher education and research in the region, exchanging good practices, preparing joint projects, harmonizing legislation, encouraging exchange of staff and students, etc. It is one of the initiatives that came out of the Berlin process, ideas for better integration of Southeast Europe. Its aim is to promote European policies in science and higher education, the exchange of good practices and the strengthening of cooperation on joint projects.

With the Rector’s Forum of Southeast Europe and Western Balkan is chaired by the rector of the University of Rijeka, prof. Dr. Snjezana Prijic-Samardzija.