WBAA Annual Conference 2026 Held in Ohrid

On 24 April 2026, the WBAA Annual Conference was held in Ohrid, North Macedonia, at Inex Olgica Hotel & Spa, bringing together 20 participants for a day of exchange, dialogue and regional cooperation. The event was moderated by Todor Marjanovikj and opened with welcome remarks from Dejan Galovski, alongside Marjanovikj, both Board Members of the WBAA Chapter North Macedonia.

Following the opening session, Mladen Mitić presented WBAA’s mission, achievements and future plans, offering participants an overview of the association’s development and its priorities for the period ahead. This part of the programme set the tone for a conference focused on stronger alumni engagement, academic cooperation and regional exchange.

A key moment of the conference was the first panel discussion, “WBAA & Higher Education: Building the Future Together,” dedicated to academic mobility, youth engagement, cooperation with universities and European University Alliances. The panel featured Assoc Prof Dr Renata Petrevska Nechkoska, Prof Dr Daniela Koltovska Nechoska, Asst Prof Dr Rregjina Gokaj, and Dr Sc Nikolina Pandža, all active WBAA members, who shared valuable perspectives on strengthening ties between higher education institutions and the WBAA community.

The programme continued with a presentation on Regional Cooperation & Youth Opportunities and an open discussion led by Kiril Jordanov, CEO and Coordinator of Youth on Board and WBAA member. The session addressed local initiatives, regional partnerships, EU values and community impact, while also opening space for reflection on future opportunities and the continued development of WBAA.

In the afternoon, participants followed the second panel discussion, “Empowering the Western Balkans Through Alumni Collaboration,” which focused on alumni networks, cross-border cooperation, innovation and mobility. The panel brought together Altin Gashi, Milan Stojanović, Mihailo Mitić and Tamara Tanjević, whose contributions underlined the importance of alumni collaboration in creating stronger regional connections and fostering new ideas across the Western Balkans.

The conference also provided valuable time for networking, during which participants exchanged experiences and ideas for the further progress of WBAA. The event concluded with final remarks and a closing speech, marking the end of a productive gathering in Ohrid, centred on cooperation, knowledge-sharing and alumni engagement.

Tetovo, Macedonia, 12 May 2026
Dejan Galovski, dejan.galovski@western-balkans-alumni.eu
Edited by the Erasmus+ Support Service Team