Institute for Strategic Research and Education (ISIE) in cooperation with the Institute for Development, Research and Alternatives (IDRA) – Tirana and Centre for Free Elections and Democracy (CESID) – Belgrade have organized Trilateral Spring School on Corruption Prevention in Higher Education in the period from 15-18 May 2024 in Ohrid, North Macedonia.
Trilateral School was organized within the Corruption Free Universities in Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia Project. Thirty student leaders and activists (10 participants per country) as well as 5 experts have attended the program. The School has provided the students with the opportunity to obtain theoretical and practical knowledge and skills to prevent corruption at the universities. During the opening ceremony of the School, the project manager Mišo Dokmanović has emphasized the importance of the regional cooperation in the fight against corruption as well as the utilization of new digital tools developed through the project (chatbot) and are disposal of the students.
“Corruption Free Universities in Albania, N. Macedonia and Serbia” Project is supported by the Regional grant of the “SMART Balkans – Civil Society for Shared Society in the Western Balkans” regional project implemented by Centar za promociju civilnog društva (CPCD), Center for Research and Policy Making (CRPM) and Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM) and financially supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA).
The meeting had an active participation from numerous representatives of student unions, youth organizations, and esteemed university professors. Their collective efforts aimed to shed light on the pervasive issue of corruption and explore innovative solutions to ensure the integrity of higher education in Albania, North Macedonia, and Serbia.

During the meeting, participants raised crucial questions and offered insightful suggestions, demonstrating a commitment to finding effective measures against corruption in academic settings. The engaged dialogue focused on identifying specific problems prevalent among students and faculty in many universities across the region. Their valuable input during the kick-off meeting laid the foundation for collaborative efforts that will be crucial in achieving the project’s goals.

As the project “Corruption Free Universities” takes its first steps, the diverse perspectives and expertise shared during the kick-off meeting promise a comprehensive and inclusive approach to tackling corruption. This event signals the beginning of a concerted effort to foster transparency, integrity, and a corruption-free environment within the academic realm of Albania, North Macedonia, and Serbia. The active engagement of stakeholders highlights the shared commitment to elevating the quality of higher education and ensuring a fair and ethical learning environment for all.

This collaborative effort is made possible in the framework of the regional grant of the “SMART Balkans – Civil Society for Shared Society in the Western Balkans” regional project implemented by Centar za promociju civilnog društva (CPCD), Center for Research and Policy Making (CRPM) and Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM) and financially supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA).