Jan 30, 2023
On 27.01.2023, the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MASA) and the National Center for Development of Innovation and Entrepreneurial Learning (NCDIEL), gathered representatives from secondary schools from all over the country on a workshop titled “The Future of Education: STEM Education, Gender Equality and Green Innovations in Vocational Education and Training”, focusing on the development of the Macedonian educational system.
The main conclusion of the workshop was that the future of education should be based on the development of STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), gender equality and development of green competences among the young population. The event was opened by the president of MANU, academician Dr. Ljupco Kocarev, prof. Dr. Nikica Mojsoska Blazevski, Chief Executive Officer of Macedonia 2025, Djan Memed, Head of Division for Corporate Clients, representative of Halkbank AD Skopje, as well as prof. Dr. Radmil Polenakovikj, representative of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, UKIM and President of the National Center for Development of Innovation and Entrepreneurial Learning from Skopje.
“Today’s presence of over 100 teachers and principals from over 25 secondary schools from all over our country is proof of the interest and desire to continuously improve education, through discussion and elaboration of topics that are the focus of interest of developed countries, especially significant for our country because they are directly related to our future and sustainable economic development. It is not only our desire, but also our obligation to encourage our students to develop critical thinking, to solve real problems and to face the challenges of today’s world”, said Prof. Dr. Radmil Polenakovikj.
The workshop encouraged a discussion and exchange of experiences about the representation and motivation of women to participate in science and education with a focus on STEM disciplines, the role parents have in motivating the students to participate in STEM activities, as well as the current gender balance in these STEM disciplines. A significant review of the situation in the Republic of North Macedonia was given by Nena Mancev, program director for education of the foundation. Macedonia 2025.
“Macedonia 2025 will continue with the implementation of activities to promote STEM education for young people, with a focus on girls. In 2022, 800 young people from North Macedonia participated in our trainings and programs to support STEM education, programming, high-tech skills and artificial intelligence” – said Prof. Dr. Nikica Mojsoska Blazevski, executive director of Macedonia2025.
Academician Ljupco Kocarev emphasized that education should not be understood only as an effective means of educating students or achieving national educational goals, on the contrary, education is a public good that should be placed in wider social and cultural frameworks and movements. In contrast to technocratic and instrumental approaches, progressive and critical education systems establish a balanced relationship between the sciences and the arts.
The event was organized by the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MASA), Faculty of Mechanical Engineering – University of St. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje, the National Center for the Development of Innovation and Entrepreneurial Learning (NCDIEL), Macedonia 2025 and Halkbank AD Skopje, with financial support from the European Union through the Horizon 2020 project WBC-RRI.NET: “Embedding RRI in Western Balkan Countries: Enhancement of Self-Sustaining R&I Ecosystems”, and the Erasmus+ project GREENOVET: “European VET Excellence Platform for Green Innovation”.
