Current Policy and Emerging Approaches 2025-2026

Internationalisation in higher education in North Macedonia is promoted through participation in European programmes, international cooperation and institutional strategies for internationalisation.

Higher education institutions are actively involved in Erasmus+ and other international initiatives, including capacity building projects and European University Alliances. These activities support strategic partnerships, joint initiatives and long-term cooperation between institutions.

Internationalisation is also reflected in the development of joint programmes, participation in international research and innovation projects and the inclusion of foreign languages, particularly English, in study programmes.

Higher education institutions engage in international cooperation through bilateral agreements, academic exchanges and participation in international networks.

Emerging approaches to internationalisation include the development of flexible learning pathways, including micro-credentials, often linked to international cooperation and projects.

Higher education institutions also participate in international research and cooperation programmes, such as Horizon Europe, COST, CEEPUS and the Western Balkans Fund. These programmes support academic cooperation, research activities, networking and mobility at regional and international level.

Sources: Law on Higher Education; Erasmus+ programme documentation; Ministry of Education and Science.

European, global and intercultural dimension in curriculum development

The national policy initiatives or measures that have been implemented with the purpose of inserting the European, global and intercultural dimension in the curriculum of the higher education institutions are incorporated in the Law on Higher Education. There are several aspects of the internationalization in higher education which are stipulated by the recent the Law on Higher Education. These are pertinent to: development and adoption of study programmes in English language,  development and adoption of joint degree study programmes with foreign universities, provision of study visits to foreign universities (ranked among top 500), adoption of biannual  action plan for inclusion of visiting professors from foreign universities in the teaching activity at the university, obligation for implementation of study programmes entirely in English (at least two study programmes in English in the first cycle and at least four study programmes in English in the second cycle), provision of conditions for the presentation of the third cycle graduation thesis, teaching activity and the research work to be conducted entirely in English.

Partnerships and networks

Almost all higher education institutions participated in the CEEPUS network. CEEPUS is the short form for Central European Exchange Program for University Studies and is a multilateral University exchange network in the extended Danube region based on an international Agreement. It went into force in 1995 with back then six signing states. Since 2005, the Republic of North Macedonia is a member to the CEEPUS where today after over 25 years of successful cooperation there are 15+ members states who join the current CEEPUS III agreement. The main activity of CEEPUS is the support of knowledge transfer, knowledge exchange and experience. CEEPUS mainly funds cooperation networks between universities in the member states through mobility grants for students and teachers. Since 1995 approximate 75.000 mobility applications have been awarded in the framework of our program.

Each country has a National CEEPUS Office (NCO) in charge of the national implementation of the Program. The Central CEEPUS Office in Vienna is responsible for the overall coordination of the program.

In the current academic year 2020/2021 11 HEIs from Republic of North Macedonia are included in the different thematic CEEPUS Networks.