MEMBERS OF THE RECTORS’ FORUM SECRETARIAT
- Prof. Dr. Snježana Prijić-Samaržija, University of Rijeka, President of the Rectors’ Forum
- Dr. Gazela Pudar Draško, University of Belgrade, Chair of the WG1 Education and Science Policies Advancement in SEE
- Prof. Dr. Marta Žuvić, University of Rijeka, Chair of the WG2 Advancement of Higher Education Programmes in SEE
- Prof. Dr. Maja Klun / Prof. Dr. Boštjan Markoli, University of Ljubljana, Chair of the WG3 Research and Innovation Advancement in SEE
- Prof. Dr. Bernard Dosti, University of Tirana
- Prof. Dr. Irena Orović, University of Montenegro
- Prof. Dr. Sanja Bijakšić, University of Mostar
- Prof. Dr. Ivan Svetlik, University of Ljubljana, Secretary-General of the Rectors’ Forum
MEETING OF THE RECTORS’ FORUM SECRETARIAT
At the end of May, the Rectors’ Forum Secretariat held an online meeting to discuss the future activities of the Rectors’ Forum. Prof. Dr. Vladimir Božović, the future President of the Rectors’ Forum, prepared and presented the draft of a two-year work programme.
A summary of the agreements reached at the meeting:
- Strengthening cooperation between the universities of the Rectors’ Forum support offices: The Rectors of the Rectors’ Forum will be invited to commit to networking support services and their activities in the areas of exchange, research, knowledge transfer and summer schools.
- Each working group is expected to organise at least one workshop or meeting per year (this activity could be partly financed by membership fees).
- Addressing national governments/ministries: The Secretariat of the Rectors’ Forum will prepare and send a letter to the main universities in each country to address their governments (the main idea is that the national authorities support the activities of the Rectors’ Forum and cooperation within the region).
- Continuation of ongoing activities (RECAS).
- Improving the visibility of the Rectors’ Forum at home and abroad:
- Prof. Dr Snježana Prijić-Samaržija is proposed to take the position of the RF Secretary of External Affairs.
- Legal entity: currently too complicated procedure, additional administrative requirements (accounting etc.) should be ensured. Proposal to distribute the activities among the universities, which should also use the existing national organisations in Brussels.
- Improve communication via the newsletter and the website: Members of the Rectors’ Forum are further encouraged to communicate and promote their activities via the newsletter and website to promote and strengthen networking and the establishment of joint cooperation; the website is to be updated with members’ activities as appropriate.
- Research equipment: It is proposed to implement this activity through or in co-operation with the RCC
- Mobility fund: currently there are many available funds that are not used, at least at the University of Ljubljana (proposal to use the existing programmes first).
- Universities should focus on raising funds through their alliances to support the activities of the Rectors’ Forum.
- Diaspora conference: will take place at the end of 2026 at the University of Montenegro. The organisation will be partly funded by membership fees, and the content by the URGE project partners.
- The next Rectors’ Forum is to be organised in spring 2026. The core topic will be cooperation between universities and industry. The event is planned as part of the Eutopia Alliance programme, so that the costs could be partially covered by the project. It is proposed to hold the event at the University of Ljubljana. Due to the eligibility rules, universities from Croatia, North Macedonia or Serbia could also organise the event.