AGREEMENT ON COOPERATION BETWEEN 30 UNIVERSITIES IN THE REGION

The Third Rectors’ Forum of the South East Europe and Western Balkans was held February 7-8, 2019 in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The meeting of the rectors of the universities in the region was hosted by the University of Mostar. On behalf of the University of Novi Sad, the Rector Prof. Dr. Dejan Jakšić and the Vice-Rector for Education Prof. Dr. Sanja Podunavac-Kuzmanović participated in the Forum.

During the second day of the Forum, on February 8^th, 2019, the rectors from more than 30 universities in the region signed the academic interinstitutional agreement on cooperation. The Agreement focuses on more intensive engagement and cooperation between the universities in the field of science, research and higher education, creation of joint cycles of study and joint projects in the scope of various programmes of financial support, as well as on joint action toward better convergence of higher education and labour market. Furthermore, the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum was established with the main purpose to coordinate further actions within this regional inter-university initiative.

The Forum ended with the announcement of the Fourth Rectors’ Forum of the South East Europe and Western Balkans to be held toward the end of April, 2019 in Podgorica, Montenegro.

The First Rectors’ Forum was hosted by the University of Novi Sad in September 2018 with the aim to open new possibilities of mutual cooperation and creation of conditions toward joint capacity strengthening of the universities in the region. On the occasion of the Second Rector’s Forum that was held at the University of Zagreb in November 2018, the rectors from the region signed a Declaration of the universities of South East Europe and Western Balkans, with the aim to enhance cooperation and mutual activities of the universities in the field of science, higher education, research and knowledge transfer.