Fostering Research and Educational Synergies

Fostering Research and Educational Synergies 
Across Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans

Thursday   I   12 June 2025    I    10:30 – 16:00
at the Permanent Representation of Slovenia to the EU, 
Rue Joseph II 14, 1000 Brussels

We are honored to invite you to the international conference titled "Fostering Research and Educational Synergies Across Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans," which will be held on 12 June 2025, from 10:30 to 16:00, at the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Slovenia to the European Union, Rue Joseph II 14, Brussels. This in-person event is organized by the University of Ljubljana, the Rectors’ Forum of Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans, and the Slovenian Business & Research Association (SBRA), with the support of the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Slovenia to the EU. The conference aims to advance academic cooperation, strengthen institutional networks, and foster a shared vision for the future of higher education and research in the Western Balkans and Southeast Europe, with a particular focus on bridging collaboration between EU member states and non-EU countries in the region.

The conference will bring together distinguished university rectors, vice-rectors and leading policy experts in education and research. Among the confirmed speakers are Ekaterina Zaharieva, EU Commissioner for Start-ups, Research, and Innovation; Prof. Dr. Snježana Prijić-Samaržija, the current President of the Rectors' Forum of Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans;  Prof. Dr. Vladimir Božović, Rector of the University of Montenegro and future President of the Rectors' Forum of Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans; Prof. Dr. Gregor Majdič, Rector of the University of Ljubljana; and Prof. Dr. Vladan Đokić, Rector of the University of Belgrade. In addition to these keynote contributions, attendees will hear insights from the leadership of institutions from the region, among others.

The programme includes high-level sessions addressing topics of immediate relevance to regional and European higher education strategies. The first panel discussion, titled “Higher Education Legislation and Quality Certification Systems in Non-EU Western Balkan Countries and How to Accelerate Approximation to the EU System,” will examine current challenges in aligning academic standards and explore paths toward deeper integration with EU quality frameworks. The second panel, “Different Ways of Academic Cooperation Between Universities in the Western Balkans and How It Can Be Improved,” will highlight successful models of inter-university collaboration, identify obstacles, and offer forward-looking strategies for enhanced mobility, shared research, and joint degree programmes. These discussions are designed not only to share best practices, but also to lay the groundwork for concrete cooperation mechanisms, including funding proposals and regional networks.

The event will conclude with a Q&A and open discussion session, providing an opportunity for all participants to exchange views, ask questions, and identify new areas for collaboration. The formal programme will be followed by a networking luncheon, offering space for informal dialogue and the strengthening of bilateral and multilateral ties among participants.

Discover the full programme here.

REGISTRATION: