Skopje, May 22, 2025 – On May 21 and 22, 2025, at the premises of Mother Teresa University in Skopje, working activities were held within the framework of the Age-friendly Balkans Connected (ABC) Network international scientific project. Its aim is to promote environments friendly to people with special needs in the Balkan region.
At the opening ceremony, a welcoming speech was delivered by the Rector of MTU, Lecturer Bekim Fetaji, Ph.D., who emphasized the importance of international cooperation in the advancement of social policies and the development of applied research that directly affects citizens’ well-being, especially seniors over 65. Moreover, MTU Rector, Lecturer Bekim Fetaji, Ph.D., emphasized that we are proud that our university is part of this project with regional and global impact.
An important contribution to the realization of this project and a warm welcome to the international delegation were also wished by the Vice-Rector for International Relations, Assoc. Prof. Diturije Ismaili, Ph.D., who, in her welcoming speech, emphasized the importance of deepening strategic partnerships with European universities, as well as the role that MTU has taken on as an active and collaborative institution in international projects for science and social innovation.
The project was carried out in the presence of the project coordinator, Lecturer Joost van Hoof, Ph.D., from The Hague University of Applied Sciences, and the participants from partner institutions from the Netherlands, England, and the Balkan countries.
MTU, via the Faculty of Social Sciences and Lecturer Daniel Pavlovski, Ph.D., serves as a regional center for coordinating research in Kosovo, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, and Bulgaria.
The support of the project by the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights the global importance of this initiative, and its representative, Mr. Yongjie Yon, delivered an online presentation.
Through this study, concrete data will be provided for policies for active and healthy aging at the local and regional level, becoming the basis for sustainable activities by public institutions.
