From the 4th to the 5th of September 2023, the University of Rijeka hosted the 7th meeting of the Rectors Forum of Southeast Europe and Western Balkans.
This regional cooperation was initiated a few years ago, and over the last two years the universities of Rijeka, Belgrade and Ljubljana have been working together to ensure the successful operation of the Rectors’ Forum of Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans as a key regional university network.
The aim of the Rectors’ Forum of Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans is to strengthen education, research and innovation cooperation between universities in Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans. So far, 30 universities have shown interest in participating in the Rectors’ Forum. In the next few weeks, the member universities will decide whether to become full or associate members.
The meeting of the Rectors’ Forum of Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans, attended by 70 university representatives, including 17 rectors and more than 20 vice-rectors, led to the adoption of rules of organization, the appointment of three working groups – for education, higher education policy, and research and innovation, election of new President and admission of new members.
The first day of the Rectors’ Forum of Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans focused on the challenges facing higher education and research in this part of Europe, with the participants divided into three parallel working groups.
The first group, dedicated to the development of education and science policies in Southeast Europe, was chaired by Dr Gazela Pudar Draško, Director of the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory at the University of Belgrade.
The second group, chaired by Prof. Marta Žuvić, Vice-Rector for Studies, Students and Quality Assurance at the University of Rijeka, focused on the progress and development of higher education programmes in Southeast Europe.
The third group concentrated on progress in research and innovation, and was led by Prof. Maja Klun, Vice-Rector for Knowledge Transfer, Digitalisation and Sustainable Development at the University of Ljubljana.
The working groups have already drawn up two-year work plans, focusing on areas such as improving regional cooperation, supporting member universities in winning EU projects, promoting brain circulation, and boosting innovation in the member countries. The working groups’ findings and recommendations were presented to the university leaders at the general assembly, where the work plan was approved and group leaders were appointed.
It was also decided that four new universities would become official members of the Rectors’ Forum of Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans: the University of Tirana (Albania), University Haxhi Zeka (Kosovo), University Ukshin Hoti Prizren (Kosovo), and the Goce Delchev University (North Macedonia).
The delegates also elected the new President of the Rectors’ Forum of Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans,
Prof. Snježana Prijić-Samaržija, Rector of the University of Rijeka. She was elected for a period from 1st October 2023 to 30th September 2025.
Photo: UNIRI
Representatives of the Rectors’ Forum of Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans member universities also adopted a declaration, pledging to work together to improve and strengthen regional and international links, and to launch joint initiatives and projects to raise the standards of quality in research and higher education, while also improving academic mobility within the member network.
Meeting documents
Agenda
Minutes of the meeting
Annexes:
- RF Action plan 2023-2025
- UNIRI presentation
- Joint initiatives for regional projects
- Gender mainstreaming
- Institute UOM
- IUC presentation
- WG on Education and Science Policies Advancements in SEE
- WG on Advancement of HE programmes in SEE
- WG on Research and Innovation Advancements in SEE
- RF Assembly meeting
