UL SEB students participated in the conference “From Slovenia to North Macedonia: Synergy of Education and Business”

University of Ljubljana School of Economics and Business students Kristijan Popovski (President of the
Macedonian Student Organisation in Slovenia), Vladimir Jordanoski, Monika Velinova and Lea Janačkovska attended the conference, and Professor Metka Tekavčič, PhD. Melita Sekulovska, Regional Coordinator of the Part-Time Master Programme in Business and Organisation in Macedonia moderated the event.

The conference entitled “From Slovenia to North Macedonia: Synergy of Education and Business,” tried to motivate young people who are completing or have already completed their studies abroad to return to their country and contribute to its social and economic development.

In three panels, youth representatives from the Macedonian Student Organisation in Slovenia and the Student Parliament of the University of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Skopje, representatives of the government and business sector of the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Skopje discussed the reasons for young people’s departure and the opportunities that have been and can still be created for their return.

Kristjan Popovski presented the views of young people from North Macedonia, who participated in the Macedonian Student Organisation in Slovenia survey of 50 people and shared their opinions on the improvement of Macedonian society and the vision of expatriate youth. Professor Metka Tekavčič, PhD, thanked everyone for organising the event and pointed out that the School of Economics and Business University of Ljubljana, in cooperation with the Embassy of Slovenia in Skopje and representatives of Slovenian companies operating in North Macedonia, has already organised several events on employment opportunities for Macedonian students graduating in Slovenia in their home country. UL SEB has been running a Master’s programme in Business and Organisation at its Skopje location for more than a decade, and it is the faculty’s wish that government representatives work with the faculty to implement its mission in North Macedonia and the wider region. Many alumni of this programme, who expressed their wish to revive their part of the Alumni Association, also attended the event.

The conference was attended by representatives of the highest state authorities, including the Speaker of the Assembly of North Macedonia, Afrim Ghashi, senior Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Skopje government officials, ministers, the diplomatic corps and embassies, representatives of international organisations, the non-governmental sector, students, youth, media and others. The participation of high-level government representatives in the conference, which was created in cooperation with the activities of the students of the School of Economics and the Business University of Ljubljana through the Macedonian Student Organisation in Slovenia, shows a significant impact of the students of the UL SEB and the involvement of the faculty in the Republic of North Macedonia. Special thanks go to Ambassador Gregor Presker and the Minister Plenipotentiary at the Slovenian Embassy in Skopje, responsible for economic affairs, Ms Gjyla Vishaj.

The Macedonian Student Organisation in Slovenia in which UL SEB students are active, organises events in Slovenia. On Saturday, 5 October 2024, at the beginning of the new academic year, they organised a Macedonian Student Evening, where students could learn about Macedonian culture and Macedonian music.