Strengthening University–Business Synergy in the Western Balkans
Over the past decades, significant efforts have been devoted to fostering stronger collaboration between universities and businesses. Initially, the focus was on addressing concerns about how to effectively educate the growing number of young people entering higher education—ensuring their employability and reducing the risk of unemployment. This has involved identifying the essential and ever-evolving competencies and embedding them into well-designed curricula supported by effective teaching and training processes.
With the emergence of the knowledge economy and knowledge society, attention has increasingly shifted to the speed of the knowledge cycle—encompassing the creation, dissemination, and application of knowledge. Today, knowledge is a key competitive factor. Its creation extends beyond universities and research institutes to include R&D centres within industrial and service organizations. As a result, the sharing and circulation of knowledge have become more critical than ever.
At the same time, universities must uphold their traditional mission: providing students with high-quality foundational knowledge, fostering creativity, and delivering a humanistic education that cultivates critical thinking and intellectual engagement.
This conference aims to explore how universities in the Western Balkans are addressing the challenges of university–business cooperation, identify opportunities for mutual learning, and showcase examples of good practice—including those from Western Europe. It will also highlight how such collaboration is embedded within broader innovation ecosystems and outline the services needed to support and strengthen these partnerships.
Key participants will include rectors and vice-rectors from member universities of the Rectors’ Forum, alongside representatives from selected EUTOPIA universities.
If you wish to attend the event, please register here.
Venue:
University of Ljubljana
Kongresni trg 12, Ljubljana
Ceremony room / Zbornična dvorana
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