ERI SEE Director Participated in WB6 CIF Coordination Meeting in Skopje on MAP REA Activities

Director of the Secretariat of the Education Reform Initiative of South Eastern Europe (ERI SEE), Sandra Brkanović, participated in a two-day coordination meeting held in Skopje on 19–20 May 2026 and organised by the Western Balkans 6 Chamber Investment Forum (WB6 CIF) within the framework of activities envisaged under the Common Regional Market Action Plan (CRM/MAP REA) 2025–2028.

The meeting brought together representatives and experts engaged within the WB6 CIF framework and the Thematic Working Group on Human Resources, including Jadranka Arizankoska, WB6 CIF Project Manager, Nataša Janevska, Advisor for Education in the Cabinet of the President of the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia, Mladen Perazić, Director of the Education and Quality Sector at the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro, Mirjana Kovačević, Head of the Centre for Education, Dual Education and Educational Policies at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia and Director of the PKS Business Academy, and Nemanja Andrejić, Secondee for Administration at the Western Balkans 6 Chamber Investment Forum.

Participation of the ERI SEE Secretariat Director in the meeting was initiated by WB6 CIF in order to discuss and further define the role of ERI SEE in the implementation of activities related to human capital development, vocational education and training, and skills development within the Common Regional Market agenda coordinated by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC).

During the two-day discussions, particular attention was devoted to the coordination of joint regional activities, especially the development of regional occupational standards for VET curricula, an area in which ERI SEE has extensive regional experience. Participants also defined the initial phases of implementation of the planned activities for the period 2026-2028.

Particular emphasis was placed on ERI SEE’s long-standing role in coordinating regional processes involving VET institutions, qualification agencies, chambers of commerce, and other relevant stakeholders from across the Western Balkans. Through its previous regional initiatives and projects, ERI SEE contributed to strengthening regional cooperation, improving the comparability and quality of occupational standards, and supporting better alignment between education systems and labour-market needs across the region.

ERI SEE and WB6 CIF have an established partnership formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation signed in 2021, confirming their joint commitment to strengthening cooperation between education and business sectors, enhancing regional cooperation, and supporting the development of qualifications and skills relevant to the labour market of the Western Balkans.

During her stay in Skopje, the Director of ERI SEE also met with members of the ERI SEE Governing Board from the Ministry of Education and Science of North Macedonia, Ahmed Qazimi and Jordanco Poposki. Discussions focused on the activities implemented and planned by ERI SEE during 2026, the challenges related to the organisation’s transition period, as well as the importance of further strengthening activities in the fields of vocational education and training (VET), quality assurance (QA), and higher education. The Governing Board members expressed their full support for the work of ERI SEE and for Director Sandra Brkanović since the beginning of her mandate.