Skopje, 11 January 2024 (MIA) - Seven students enrolled in study programs designated as critical specialties in the Army of North Macedonia signed scholarship contracts with the Minister of Defense Slavjanka Petrovska on Thursday.

Two students are enrolled in the field of geographic information systems, three are studying medicine, one computer technology, and the other energy and ecology, at the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje (UKIM), "Goce Delchev" University and University American College Skopje. A total of 11 candidates applied for the army student scholarship at the Ministry of Defense, and after conducting the selection and physical and medical examinations, seven were selected.

"After completing their studies the students will be employed at the Ministry, i.e. the Army and will have an opportunity to immediately become part of the defense system, work with the most modern equipment, improve their knowledge and use it for advancing the Army and defense. The Ministry is systematically solving the challenge of recruiting people with critical specialties," Petrovska said, and thanked that after completing their education they decided to pursue a professional career in defense.

Dijana Koka Dhemaili, studying at the Faculty of Medicine- UKIM, said that she chose military service and medicine from a young age because she believes that every strong country should invest in health and defense.

Jovan Ivanov, studying Computer Science and Information Technology at University American College Skopje, noted that the scholarship is an incentive for him to upgrade his personal and professional development in the field of information technology. He hopes to contribute to the country and Army in advancing its cyber security and other areas of information technology.

Dimitar Tanurovski, studying Medicine at "Goce Delchev" University, encouraged his colleagues to apply, because he according to him "everyone should be honored to be able to serve their country."

Minister Petrovska stressed the advertisement is made in accordance with the law on army service, and announced that the adoption of the law on employees in the Ministry of Defense, which is already in a parliamentary procedure, will open scholarships and employments for people performing critical specialties in the Ministry.

According to the terms of the contract which was announced in November of last year, the scholarship is in the amount of a certain percentage based on the average salary, amounting to 30 percent for first-year students (11,654 days), and 80 percent for students in the sixth year of studies. The scholarships will be paid according to the law on 2023/2024 academic year, meaning that students will receive a retroactive payment from the beginning of this academic year. ssh/sk/

Photo: Ministry of Defense