Background

One of the initiatives presented during the Ministerial meeting of the Western Balkans Platforms on Education & Training and Research & Innovation held in Belgrade on September 28-29, 2017 was the establishment of the Western Balkans Alumni Association. Its objectives are manifold:

• promote mobility opportunities
• track students who have graduated from university
• support and mentor students
• share information about internship and employment opportunities
• bridge the gap between higher education and the labour market
• establish and facilitate dialogue with stakeholders at all levels (ministries, higher education institutions, National Erasmus+ Offices)
• support modernisation of the teaching process and methodologies
• share best practices

The recently established Association is operational and currently mapping alumni. The official kick-off meeting is now announced and will be organised on March 15-17, 2018 in Ohrid, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Plans for the near future include improving the website, conducting a study tracing those who have completed a mobility programme and evaluating its impact etc.

Draft agenda is attached below.

More information is provided here:

• First structured dialogue on a Western Balkans Regional Alumni Association, 3-4 November 2016
• 1st Meeting of the Western Balkans Alumni Association (WBAA) with the Erasmus+ Student & Alumni Association (ESAA), 27 March 2017, Brussels
• 2nd dialogue on a Western Balkans Alumni Association (WBAA) & 2nd WBAA – ESAA cooperation meeting, 3-4 August 2017, Brussels

Source: EC