Skopje, 1 October 2024 (MIA) – Education is not only a learning and knowledge transfer process, it is a marvellous never-ending journey in life. Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje has been and will remain a space where scientific thinking has been enhanced and improved. Now, you’re at the threshold of countless opportunities. The decisions you will be making will shape not only your academic development but also your path throughout life, participants in a ceremony Tuesday marking the start of 2024/2025 academic year told first-year students at the Skopje University.

Delivering an address, Skopje University Rector, professor Biljana Angelova urged students to accept all the opportunities offered to them, reminding them they are starting a new journey filled with excitement, opportunities, challenges and growth.

“The decisions you are making, the risks you are taking and the persistence you’ll get accustomed to will shape not only your academic development, but also the path you’ll pursue throughout life. We are here to support you, to guide you and to celebrate your big and small accomplishments. You may rise and fall, but you should know you are not alone on this journey. You have a community that believes in your potential and is committed to helping you succeed,” Angelova said. 

President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova and Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, both university professors, also addressed the event. 

Mickoski said his government is committed to projects aimed at improving the quality of higher education. The government, he added, plans to significantly modernize the infrastructural capacity of universities.

“We’ve already kicked off institutional engagement to reconstruct labs in some faculties in universities across the countries to modernize them with equipment and technologies. We’ve also started designing a project on digitizing university administration so as to make enrolment, application and assessment processes easier,” Mickoski said. 

The PM also mentioned that the government has been promoting the program for international cooperation and student exchange. “Students and professors will have more opportunities to study and do research in foreign universities in order to share experience and to apply the best international practices in our education,” he said stressing that funds for scientific research will be increased in order to support the professors and motivate them on their academic journey. 

Addressing first-year students, President Siljanovska Davkova emphasized that education is the best investment. According to her, the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University is both the best and the oldest university in the country.

“The good news is that 5,200 wanted to study here, at our common home. As many as 200 students from abroad wanted to study here. It shows we are competitive,” she said.

According to the President, students will be constrained unless the percent of research and education is raised. 

What has always amazed me, Siljanovska Davkova said, is the autonomy of the University, because only autonomy can guarantee a real competition and the fostering of critical minds. 

Established in 1949 with three faculties, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje today is a community consisting of 23 faculties, five scientific institutes and four public scientific institutions. 

Photo/video: MIA