After more than three years and huge efforts, dedication and collaboration by WBAA volunteers from the Research Team, the Institute for Advanced Studies in Vienna, Austria, the Service Provider for WBAA and the European Commission, the Tracer Study is finally published!

The Tracer Study has succeeded to gather alumni relevant perceptions, opinions, experiences, knowledge, memories, pathways and ideas to contribute to the academic landscape and economies of the Western Balkans. The survey addressed students and graduates from the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia) who have spent parts of their studies outside the Western Balkans, mainly with EU funding (primarily Erasmus).

A total of 1.320 alumni completed the questionnaire and evaluated different aspects of both higher education systems (Western Balkans and the European Union) on the basis of their international study experience focusing on their educational path, the study experience outside the WB, the differences between studies in the home and host country and their recommendations to the higher education systems in their home chapters.

From the Tracer Study results, effective approaches for improvements in the higher education system of the Western Balkans have been identified. In this way, necessary suggested changes in the higher education system will finally be presented to various stakeholders such as regional decision-makers and higher education institutions in the respective countries.