Two-day International Conference of the European Union Higher Education Programmes held in Belgrade

Within the activities of the Platform for the Western Balkans in the area of education (WEBPET) an international conference gathering 200 participants from the region was held in Belgrade, Serbia on 30-31 October 2014. Apart from the representatives of the universities and other higher education institutions, students’ associations, representatives of the ministries and agencies dealing with the issues of education, the conference was attended by the representatives of the European Commission, that is, Directorate General for Education and Culture, Directorate General for Enlargement, Delegation of the European Union in the Republic of Serbia, as well as by the representatives of the national Erasmus+ (former Tempus) offices from the region countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia and Serbia). The conference was officially declared open by Mr. Srdjan Verbić, Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Government of the Republic of Serbia.



During the course of these two days, the participants dealt with the role and impact the European Union projects in this field had had so far on the countries of the region. The experts coming from the universities of Belgium, Croatia, Slovenia, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Montenegro and Serbia presented results of some of the successful projects organized within the scope of previous programs they participated in alongside with the partners form the Western Balkans (Erasmus Mundus, Tempus, Jean Monnet and Marie Curie), which will be replaced by the program titled Erasmus+ in the period of 2015-2020.

There were discussions organized in parallel panels about the details of certain programs, where positive experiences and challenges have been presented, as well as possibilities and modalities of future cooperation. The University of Banja Luka was represented at the Conference by Prof. Dr Valerija Šaula, Vice-Rector for International Cooperation and Ms Jelena Rožić, Officer for International Cooperation.

The Erasmus+ program was discussed during the second day of the conference, when the possibilities regarding mobility within the program were presented. More details regarding this and other activities will be presented during Info Day events scheduled for November this year in the countries of the region. During the Conference in Belgrade, representatives of the European Union have announced that the Info Day for Bosnia and Herzegovina will be held on 13 November 2014 at the University of Banja Luka.