Report – Round Table on Inter-University Cooperation “Recovery plan for Interuniversity Cooperation in the Adriatic – Ionian Region: What can we expect in the next 3-year time?”

28 November 2022 15:00 – 17:00 (CET TIME)

University of Zenica (Bosnia-Herzegovina)

REPORT

The Round Table on Inter-University Cooperation “Recovery plan for Interuniversity Cooperation in the Adriatic – Ionian Region: What can we expect in the next 3-year time?” is the third of a series of round tables already organized in the previous years.

Going back to 2020, a first Round Table on “Higher Education challenges and responses in Covid-time” was organized to discuss the present situation and future perspectives of higher education challenges and responses in Covid time within the Adriatic Ionian Region (AIR).  At that time UniAdrion disseminated a questionnaire among the members called Level of use of the distance learning tools within the Adriatic-Ionian Region.

Going ahead in 2021, a second Round Table was organized on the topic “Higher Education challenges and responses in Covid-time: how university education has been reshaped in response to COVID-19 one year later” to know the development of education and research due to COVID, focusing on digitalization as fundamental innovation tool for university development and for inter-university cooperation.

The third Round Table, taking place at the University of Zenica, focused on “Recovery plan for Interuniversity Cooperation in the Adriatic – Ionian Region: What can we expect in the next 3-year time?” and the speakers were requested to answer the following three questions:

1. What is UniAdrion for your country? What can UniAdrion do for your country?
2. Which steps can be done together?
3. What do you want to achieve in 3 years’ time thanks to inter-university cooperation in the Adriatic-Ionian area?

UniAdrion has got a new Governing Board, elected by the General Assembly in May 2022 and for this Round Table UniAdrion asked the involvement of the new Board members to go deeper into the specific needs of the countries they represent.

UniAdrion has significantly grown in the last 5 years thanks to new projects, new activities, new funds and it is necessary to discuss and take decisions on the sustainability of such increased projects/activities as well as to capitalize on them.

The Agenda of the Round Table was full of interesting insights and comments since the institutional part. Ambassador Milos Prica, AII Chairman-in-office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, underlined the importance of the University, which is the place of the preparation of the new generations. Ambassador Pigliapoco, Adriatic & Ionian Initiative – Head of the Permanent Secretariat, underlined the invitation received from the European Commission to focus on youth.

The discussion was opened by Professor Bernard Dosti who is the Albanian Representative of the UniAdrion Governing Board coming from the University of Tirana, Prof. Dosti pointed out that one of the main goal of UniAdrion is to know each other better, increase the exchange of students and professors and increase collaborations and projects.

Professor Jenny Pagge, Greek Representative of the UniAdrion Governing Board coming from the University of Ioannina, pointed out that UniAdrion should focus on research visits, joint conferences (very useful for networking and to raise money with fees), projects for students. Professor Marco Borraccetti, Italian Representative of the UniAdrion Governing Board coming from the University of Bologna, said that the Universities are bridges between countries. The added value of Uniadrion is that the Association is very close to two important entities: 1. EUSAIR (political level) and 2. ADRION (financial level). Finally, Prof. Borraccetti concluded by emphasizing the added value for Universities to be part of UniAdrion, which is to collaborate in a multilateral way and not in a bilateral way. Rector Igor Nedelkovski, North Macedonian Representative of the UniAdrion Governing Board coming from the University of St. Kliment Ohridiski, underlined the importance of Joint Degrees, which will enlarge the collaborations between more Universities and offer more exchange opportunities for the students. Professor and Ambassador Michele Chiaruzzi, Sammarinese Representative of the UniAdrion Governing Board coming from the University of San Marino, said that UniAdrion represent a good opportunity to expand the visibility at international level.

Also, other people took the floor to express their opinion. Professor Malik Cabaradvic, coming from the University of Zenica, underlined that UniAdrion might be useful for increasing the number of Inter-Institutional Agreements. Moreover, he added the importance to be involved in Capacity Building projects and in Joint master’s degrees. The Bosnian representative of the UniAdrion Governing Board Professor Armina Hubana pointed out that international cooperation as the main goal of UniAdrion should be fostered among all the members. Professor Andrea Perna, UniAdrion Secretary General, focused on the crucial role of UniAdrion, an association with great potential to connect all the partners to increase collaborations and joint proposals.  Finally, the Serbian Representative of WBAA, PhD Milan Stojanovic talked about the importance of involving young people in the decision-making process and the involvement of the students in the projects.

The Round Table on Inter-University Cooperation has been and will be the fundamental tool to discuss and to build, foster and strengthen the role of the Universities in the process of valorization of the students. young people are the key to the future and the Universities must help young generations to acquire awareness, competencies and skills. Universities are bridges among countries and are bridges for a better future.