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Students Forum is part of the project “Promoting Youth Engagement in Accountability of Public Institutions” Implemented by Forum for Educational Change and funded by th eNational Endowment for Democracy. With Students Forum we try to empower students by offering a dynamic and inclusive platform where they can openly discuss, confront, and triumph over the obstacles encountered on their academic journey.
Forum for Educational Change – FECH is a grassroots Civil Society Organization (CSO) founded in October 2021, that aims to contribute to the enhancement of the quality of higher education in North Macedonia and to empower students to contribute to the local and international community through their active participation in the decision-making processes. FECH is a joint investment of people of goodwill who have joined with precise goals – that Macedonia should have high-quality public education while the students should be the ones who decide, not only to follow the rules set by some people of advanced age in four walls and without transparency
Since its founding in October 2021, Forum for Educational Change (FECH) has been a driving force in enhancing higher education in North Macedonia and empowering students to take active roles in shaping their academic futures. We have tackled corruption in public universities, championed transparency, and equipped student assemblies to advocate effectively for their rights. In October 2022, we opened the Youth Activism Center in Tetovo, providing a space for young people to collaborate and implement impactful community initiatives. Through the #DigiU coalition, we have led the digital transformation of public universities, while in March 2024, we facilitated the establishment of North Macedonia’s first-ever National Student Body, uniting student assemblies to advocate collectively for student needs.
Blendi Hodai is a dynamic and accomplished individual passionate about education and social change. He is the co-founder and Executive Director of the NGO Forum for Educational Change, where he works to improve the quality of education in North Macedonia. In addition to this role, Blendi is a founder and former leader of the most prominent student movement in North Macedonia – UNSHM. He’s a bachelor’s student in the Faculty of Philosophy, majoring in International and Intercultural Studies. He is also a part-time facilitator and consultant, working on topics such as advocacy, youth activism, conflict management & peacebuilding, and consults for the UNFPA office in Skopje. With his diverse background and experience, Blendi is a valuable asset to any organization or project working towards positive change in the community.
Vesa Sherifi a student of Medicine at the University of St. Cyril and Methodius and a part of the YES alumni community since 2018. Vesa was a City Representative for American Councils for International Education in North Macedonia during 2018-2019, where she has organized and facilitated different projects, workshops, and events in her hometown, Kumanovo, and Skopje.
She has participated and helped in different events organized by American Councils all around North Macedonia and has also participated in different regional workshops and events.
Viktorija chose to continue her education in Linguistics right after she graduated at the English Language and Literature Department at the Faculty of Philology “Blaze Koneski” in Skopje. In 2022 she was elected as the second Student Ombudsman at the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius, which was the beginning of a very passionate activist career. After graduating and passing the mandate as a Student Ombudsman, Viktorija started working as a project coordinator at FECH, which allowed her to continue with a direct impact on the academic community, this time professionally. In her free time you can find her manifesting a better society for all.
Rina is a graphic designer- illustrator. She studied Graphic Design at the University of Tetovo, Faculty of Arts. After University, she is working as a freelancer and currently working part time as a Graphic Designer at FECH. Her expertise includes creating logos, brand identity, posters, illustrating books, magazines, storyboards, and more. Rina also expressing herself through painting, drawing and capturing moments with camera.
Ardit Ramadani is a master of Mass Communication and Journalism. He is the author and editor of several research studies. Previously, he worked as a fact-checker at Truthmeter.mk and Crithink.mk, as a journalist at ‘Portalb.mk,’ and at the National Television ‘Alsat M.’ Currently, Ardit is the editor-in-chief at ‘Mollekuqja.mk’ and head of research & communications at Forum for Educational Changes. Ardit is also a co-founder of both of these organizations, which are considered among the most influential in the country on issues related to youth and human rights.
The European Endowment for Democracy (EED) is an independent, grant-making organisation, established in 2013 by the European Union (EU) and EU member states as an autonomous International Trust Fund to foster democracy in the European Neighbourhood (Eastern Partnership – EaP – and Middle East and North Africa – MENA), the Western Balkans, Turkey and beyond. EED was established by the EU and EU member states as an independent, complementary mechanism to provide fast and flexible technical and financial support to democratisation and human rights promotion in the European Neighbourhood.
The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) is a non-profit German foundation funded by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, and headquartered in Bonn and Berlin. It was founded in 1925 and is named after Germany's first democratically elected President, Friedrich Ebert. FES is committed to the advancement of both socio-political and economic development in the spirit of social democracy, through civic education, research, and international cooperation. Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung is the oldest political foundation in Germany.
The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is a private, nonprofit foundation dedicated to the growth and strengthening of democratic institutions around the world. NED is a unique institution. The Endowment’s nongovernmental character gives it a flexibility that makes it possible to work in some of the world’s most difficult circumstances, and to respond quickly when there is an opportunity for political change. NED is dedicated to fostering the growth of a wide range of democratic institutions abroad, including political parties, trade unions, free markets and business organizations, as well as the many elements of a vibrant civil society that ensure human rights, an independent media, and the rule of law.
Vlora Reçica is a researcher and Head of the Center for Parliamentary Support and Democratization (CPSD) within the Institute for democracy (IDSCS). She holds a master degree in Comparative Politics, specializing in Democracy and Democratization, from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Her research and advocacy focus is on parliaments and parliamentary democracy, institutional building, populism and democratization processes in new democracies. Vlora is also the co-founder of Stella Network, a non-profit organization seeking to improve access to higher education and economic empowerment for girls and women in North Macedonia.
Prof. Dr. Petar Atanasov from 1990 to 1994 worked as a journalist in the Macedonian Television, first in the News Department, and then in the Foreign Policy Department. From 1994 to 2001 he worked in the Ministry of Defence, first as a public relations advisor to the Minister, and then as an editor in the publishing Department of the Ministry.
At the end of 2001 he was employed at the Institute for Sociological and Political-Legal Research as an assistant researcher, with completed postgraduate studies at the Faculty of Philosophy in Sociology of Ethnic Groups. In 2011 he was promoted to full professor of sociology and communications. He has taught several subjects: sociology, social change, multiculturalism, globalization and communications, and change management. Since 2011 he has been teaching methodology of scientific research and designing a scientific project to all groups of postgraduate studies at the Institute for Sociological Political and Legal Research. He writes mainly on socio-economic development, education, cultural and social exclusion, human development, multiculturalism, identity, ethnic conflicts, security and post-conflict rehabilitation. Participates in several research projects in the field of political culture, democratization, social inclusion, discrimination and prejudice, civil society, segregation and education, decentralization and local self-government, corruption and interethnic relations.
He is founder and coordinator of the doctoral program of Sociology of organization. From 2004 to 2006 he taught multiculturalism in postgraduate studies in human rights at the University of Sarajevo in cooperation with the University of Bologna. Since 2004 he has been a member of the Balkan Network of Global Governance Scholars at the London School of Economics and Political Science. From 2008 to 2010 he was a visiting professor at the University American College-Skopje. Since 2012 he has been a member of the Board of the scientific journal European Quarterly of Political Attitudes and Mentality – EQPAM
Agon Memedi is a Researcher at TU Berlin. He is the author of numerous peer-reviewed conference and journal articles in the field of vehicular wireless communications. He was a Fulbgright Scholar with the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and he has previously been awarded an Erasmus Mundus scholarship for Master’s studies at Paderborn University. Since 2016, he is a board member and vice president at “Penda” Assciation for Education.
Emir Hasanovic is the Programmes Lead for the Strong Cities Network Western Balkans Hub at ISD, responsible for Young Cities and Strong Cities coordination in the region, research and analysis, communications, and expansion. He is a strategic communications professional and project manager with international experience in consultancy, government and the non-profit sector.
He has worked for communications agencies in the Middle East and the US, primarily advising premier clients in government, environment, corporate social responsibility, human rights. Emir has also served as Special Adviser to the Deputy PM and Minister of Defence of North Macedonia for Communications and International Relations. He has also been Program Development Officer for the USAID/OTI North Macedonia Support Initiative.
Emir is a graduate of the Georgetown School of Foreign Service and is fluent in Albanian, Macedonian, Bosnian and English, and he speaks conversational French.
This website is supported and funded by the National Endowment for Democracy and European Endowment for Democracy. This website reflects the views only of the author, and neither the National Endowment for Democracy can be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein .