On 5 June 2026, the Western Balkans Alumni Association (WBAA) took part in the high-level policy dialogue “Constructing the European University of the Future – towards Joint and European Degree” in Bitola, North Macedonia. The event was organised by the University “St. Kliment Ohridski” - Bitola (UKLO), as part of the COLOURS European University Alliance.
The event gathered representatives from the European Commission, the EU Delegation to North Macedonia, the National Agency for European Educational Programmes and Mobility, the Ministry of Education of North Macedonia, the National Council for Higher Education and Research, and the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Boards. It also brought together European University Alliances operating in the region, higher education institutions working on European and joint degrees, Alliance Coordinators, students and civil society organisations. Discussions focused on the future of transnational education and the role of different stakeholders in shaping the European Degree.
WBAA was represented by Regional Board Member Milan Stojanović, PhD, who contributed the Erasmus+ alumni perspective to the discussion. He emphasised the importance of involving alumni networks as active partners in the development, implementation and evaluation of Joint Degrees and the future European Degree.
The European Degree initiative is one of the most ambitious developments within the European Education Area. It aims to strengthen cooperation between universities, support jointly designed study programmes, increase mobility opportunities and equip graduates with the skills needed to address social and economic challenges. Through European University Alliances, universities across Europe are already testing new approaches to cooperation, curriculum development, quality assurance and student mobility.
WBAA brought an alumni perspective informed by the direct experience of Erasmus+ alumni from the Western Balkans. Through Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees, Erasmus+ mobility programmes and other forms of international cooperation, alumni have experienced the value of transnational education, interdisciplinary collaboration and learning environments that bring together different nationalities, sectors and perspectives.
During the discussion, WBAA emphasised that alumni networks can connect higher education with wider society. With more than 1,000 members across the Western Balkans and beyond, including university professors, researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, policy experts, public servants and civil society leaders, WBAA brings together international experience that can support the modernisation and internationalisation of higher education.
A key message from the event was that alumni should not be seen only as beneficiaries of educational programmes. They can also contribute to future education models by bringing knowledge of local needs, international experience and connections across different sectors. These insights can help universities and policy-makers design programmes that are academically strong, socially relevant and responsive to labour market needs.
The event was organised by UKLO COLOURS, under the leadership and coordination of its Academic Director, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Renata Petrevska Nechkoska. Her work has helped position the University “St. Kliment Ohridski” - Bitola as an active partner in European higher education cooperation. Prof. Nechkoska has been a WBAA member since the association’s inception and was the first Head of the WBAA Research Team. She is also affiliated with Ghent University in Belgium, which is part of the ENLIGHT Alliance, and has experience as a former banker and European Commission expert.
The round table provided an important platform for connecting North Macedonia and the Western Balkans with broader European discussions on the future of higher education. The discussion also highlighted the importance of cooperation beyond academia. Civil society organisations with specialised expertise can contribute to modern curricula and help address real-world challenges. One example is the Centre for Sustainability Excellence in Food and Agriculture (CSEFA) in Serbia, founded by WBAA alumni. CSEFA brings together experts in agri-food systems, sustainability and digital innovation, and shows how international educational experience can support universities, research institutions and public authorities.
WBAA also prepared a policy paper with recommendations on strengthening the role of alumni networks in the development of Joint Degrees and the future European Degree. To sustain the policy dialogue, Prof. Nechkoska will serve as Editor-in-Chief of a new UKLO COLOURS Alliance Policy Briefs series, entitled “Constructing the European University of the Future”. The series will help keep alumni perspectives visible in future discussions on European higher education policy, including debates on cooperation between the Western Balkans and the EU.
WBAA’s participation in the dialogue reaffirmed the role of Erasmus+ alumni networks in the European Education Area. It also showed how the Western Balkans can contribute to discussions on European University Alliances, the European Degree label, policy dialogue and the future of European higher education.
Milan Stojanović, milan-s@live.com
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Renata Petrevska Nechkoska, renata.petrevska@uklo.edu.mk
Serbia, Novi Sad and North Macedonia, Bitola, 19 July 2026
Edited by the Erasmus+ Support Service Team
