Full Prof. Izer Maksuti, Ph.D., lecturing at the Faculty of Humanities, at the German Language and Literature Study Program at Mother Teresa University in Skopje, participated in the 14th edition of the Freie Universität Berlin International Staff Training Week.
The international event took place from 22 to 26 June 2026 and brought together approximately 300 participants from more than 60 countries, representing universities, research institutes, and higher education institutions worldwide. The program was organized into eleven thematic tracks, tailored to the participants’ professional backgrounds.
The 14th edition of the Freie Universität Berlin International Staff Training Week was jointly organized by Freie Universität Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and the Berlin Center for Global Engagement (BCGE), offering a comprehensive academic and professional program that included lectures, workshops, thematic discussions, and international networking activities.
Full Prof. Izer Maksuti, Ph.D., participated in the thematic track “More Open Than Before, Yet Increasingly Restricted: Navigating Contradictory Trends in the Internationalization of Research,” which focused on contemporary challenges related to the internationalization of research, academic freedom, international collaboration, research security, and the impact of geopolitical developments on scientific research.
As part of the session “Dealing with Cultural Differences in Cooperation,” Full Prof. Izer Maksuti, Ph.D., delivered a presentation entitled “Language and Power in International Research Cooperation” that explored the relationship between language, power, and equality in international scientific collaboration. It addressed the role of the English language as the lingua franca of science, the challenges faced by less widely spoken languages in academic communication, and the potential impact of AI on either reducing or reinforcing linguistic inequalities in research. The presentation was followed by a productive discussion involving participants from various countries.
Throughout the week, participants took part in thematic workshops, group discussions, visits to various organizational units of Freie Universität Berlin, and numerous professional networking activities. These events provided valuable opportunities to exchange experiences, learn about international best practices, and establish new academic and professional connections.
During the training week, Full Prof. Izer Maksuti, Ph.D., also held working meetings with lecturers, research center directors, and international cooperation coordinators at Freie Universität Berlin. The discussions focused on opportunities to expand cooperation between Mother Teresa University in Skopje and Freie Universität Berlin, particularly in the areas of academic staff and student mobility, short-term research visits, and joint research projects, especially in linguistics, German studies, and the internationalization of higher education.
In this context, meetings were held with representatives of the International Affairs Office, the Berlin Center for Global Engagement, the Language Center (Sprachenzentrum), as well as professors and researchers from various academic disciplines. These meetings resulted in the establishment of new academic contacts and further strengthened MTU’s international cooperation network.
In addition to its academic program, the International Staff Training Week was characterized by an exceptionally international, collaborative, and inspiring atmosphere, enabling participants to exchange professional experiences, discuss best practices in higher education, and establish new interinstitutional partnerships with colleagues from leading universities across Europe and around the world.
Participation in the event represents an important step in the internationalization strategy of Mother Teresa University in Skopje, contributing to the expansion of its international academic cooperation, the development of new partnerships, and the promotion of the University at one of Europe’s leading forums for university collaboration and scientific research.
Freie Universität Berlin is among the world’s most prestigious universities. According to the QS World University Rankings 2027, Freie Universität Berlin is ranked 98th globally, 4th in Germany, and 35th in Europe, reaffirming its position as one of Europe’s leading centers for higher education and research.