WBAA General Assembly 2026 in Ohrid

On 25 April 2026, the WBAA General Assembly was held in Ohrid, North Macedonia, at Inex Olgica Hotel & Spa, bringing together WBAA members for a full day of discussion, reflection and planning for the association’s next phase of development. Holding the General Assembly in Ohrid carried special meaning, as the city is linked to the beginnings of WBAA and remains an important place in our story.

The event was facilitated by Ljubica Darkovic, who ensured everything ran smoothly and helped create a focused and positive atmosphere. The Assembly opened with welcome remarks chaired by Dejan Galovski and Todor Marjanovikj, both Board Members of WBAA Chapter North Macedonia who warmly welcomed participants and set a constructive tone for the day.

An important part of the agenda was the confirmation of new Board Members, followed by the Annual Working Report. Participants also received practical information from the Erasmus+ Support Service Team and an online update from the European Commission, presented by Hélène Banegas and Vasyl Romanyk from EACEA.

Later in the day, Todor Marjanovikj presented the WBAA Annual Action Plan 2026–27, outlining the association’s priorities and planned activities for the upcoming period. This was followed by a panel discussion on ESAA members and regional networks focused on ESAA+ global partnerships, with participants including Milan Stojanović from WBAA, Kosta Peev from EMA, Mansur Ali Bilgiç from OCEANS Network, and Hida Kurtic, former ESN representative.

One of the most engaging moments of the General Assembly was the presentation of WBAA Teams 3.0, which introduced a new structure for member involvement and future cooperation.

The newly formed teams are:

• Higher Education and Modernisation
• Communication and Onboarding
• EU Opportunities and Career Development
• WBAA Development

The networking coffee break, breakout sessions and feedback round created space for participants to exchange ideas, define team directions and discuss future objectives for WBAA. These sessions showed strong motivation among members to contribute actively to the association’s next steps and long-term development.

Beyond the working programme, participants also enjoyed the beautiful atmosphere of Ohrid and the view of the lake, which added a special dimension to the gathering. The combination of meaningful discussions, active participation and the unique setting made the General Assembly both productive and memorable.

The event concluded with final remarks and a closing speech chaired by Ljubica Darkovic together with Dejan Galovski and Todor Marjanovikj. Altogether, the General Assembly in Ohrid reflected WBAA’s continued commitment to collaboration, renewal, and stronger member engagement across the Western Balkans.

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