ERI SEE Establishes the Honorary Expert Group: Preserving Knowledge and Strengthening Regional Cooperation
The Education Reform Initiative of South Eastern Europe (ERI SEE) has established the ERI SEE Honorary Expert Group, an advisory and professional network created to recognise the contributions of experienced professionals and maintain their connection with the organisation and its mission.
The Group aims to preserve ERI SEE’s institutional memory, facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experience, strengthen regional cooperation and provide expert advice and support to ERI SEE activities and initiatives. It brings together individuals whose professional achievements and contributions have supported the development of ERI SEE and the advancement of education, vocational education and training (VET), quality assurance and regional cooperation in South Eastern Europe.
Recognising Contributions and Maintaining Professional Connections
Membership in the ERI SEE Honorary Expert Group is an honorary recognition of an individual’s contribution to the work and development of ERI SEE. At the same time, it provides an opportunity to continue drawing on members’ professional knowledge, experience and networks in support of the organisation’s mission.
Members may contribute through expert consultations, professional discussions and recommendations; by sharing good practices and lessons learned; and by participating in ERI SEE activities as speakers, moderators, mentors, reviewers or experts. They may also support the development of new initiatives, projects and partnerships, contribute to publications and knowledge-sharing activities, and facilitate connections among institutions and professionals across South Eastern Europe.
The Group is intended to provide flexible, needs-based expert support, allowing ERI SEE to draw on members’ expertise in areas relevant to its work and regional priorities. Its composition may be expanded over time, enabling the organisation to maintain professional connections with a growing community of experienced experts and continue benefiting from their knowledge and advice.
The First Members of the ERI SEE Honorary Expert Group
Tina Šarić, former Director of the ERI SEE Secretariat, and Dušan Sarajlić, former National Coordination Point for VET and representative of the Agency for Pre-primary, Primary and Secondary Education (APOSO) of Bosnia and Herzegovina, are the first members of the ERI SEE Honorary Expert Group. Their contributions were recognised during the SEE VET Net Meeting in Belgrade on 15–16 October 2026, where certificates were presented to them.
Tina Šarić
Tina Šarić led the ERI SEE Secretariat for almost ten years, making an outstanding contribution to the organisation’s development, regional impact and partnerships. Throughout her mandate, she played a leading role in conceiving, developing and coordinating regional projects that brought education and training institutions together to address shared challenges and develop joint solutions.
These included TO REGOS, EQET SEE, RESET and RECONOMY, which advanced regional cooperation in areas such as occupational and qualification standards, the quality and labour-market relevance of vocational education and training, quality assurance, and skills development linked to the green transition. Through her leadership, strategic vision and commitment, Tina helped strengthen ERI SEE’s position as a regional platform for cooperation, connecting national institutions, experts and international partners and turning common priorities into concrete results. Her contribution has been instrumental in shaping the organisation’s work and laying a strong foundation for its continued development.
Dušan Sarajlić
Dušan Sarajlić has been an active member of SEE VET Net since the establishment of the Network, contributing consistently to its activities and to the development of regional cooperation in vocational education and training. As the National Coordination Point for VET in Bosnia and Herzegovina, he participated in all activities of the regional projects coordinated by ERI SEE, including TO REGOS, EQET SEE, RESET and RECONOMY.
His engagement extended across the projects’ activities and the collaborative processes through which participating institutions developed their results. He made an invaluable contribution to the achievement of project objectives and outputs, bringing national expertise and experience into regional work and helping connect the efforts of institutions across the participating economies. His long-standing commitment, professional knowledge and active involvement have made him an important contributor to the development of SEE VET Net and to the wider mission of ERI SEE.
Looking Ahead
The appointment of Tina Šarić and Dušan Sarajlić as the Group’s first members recognises their lasting contributions to ERI SEE and regional cooperation. The establishment of the ERI SEE Honorary Expert Group reflects the importance of continuity, professional knowledge and lasting partnerships. By maintaining connections with experienced professionals and drawing on their expertise when needed, ERI SEE aims to preserve institutional knowledge, build on the experience accumulated over the years and strengthen its capacity to support education reform and cooperation across South Eastern Europe.
