Within the framework of the official visit of the German delegation in Skopje, representatives from the management of the Institute in Heidelberg and Baden-Württemberg and part of the management from the State Dual University of Mannheim – DHBW, had a trilateral meeting with representatives from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Skopje, on the one hand, and the Delegation of the German economy in R. N. Macedonia, on the other hand. The focus of the meeting was the introduction and adaptation of German dual higher education studies in our country.
The German Embassy in Skopje was represented by Mr. Otto Graf, in the role of deputy ambassador and head of the economic department. The German Embassy actively supports this initiative to transform the Macedonian educational system by introducing the dual concept, with the transfer of knowledge and practices from the best universities / schools in Heidelberg, Mannheim and Frankfurt.
“We are discussing possibilities to establish a further option for the education of young people and I am very optimistic that we will find a solution for this to continue,” said Deputy Ambassador Graf.
The Delegation of German Industry & Commerce was represented by Dejan Chupovski, project manager for dual vocational education.
During the meeting, Chupovski pointed out: “I am speaking as the project manager of the program for dual professional education, which we have been implementing since 2017. We are here to assess the situation and find out if there are opportunities to establish a dual studies program at the university level.”
The German representatives were: prof. Dr. Ulrich Zeitel, Chairman of the Board of the Heidelberg Institute for Business and Management in Skopje, Executive Director of the FORUM Institute of Management and Professor at the University of Heidelberg in Germany, Dr. Brigitte Spielmann (Member on the Board of the Heidelberg Institute), prof. Dr. Georg Nagler (Rektor of The Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University – DHBW) and Torge Fischer (DHBW Education Consultant).
The Rektor of the State Dual University of Mannheim – DHBW, prof. Nagler, concluded: “There is a close contact between German economic tendencies and Macedonian development. I think that for more than 100 years dual education on a professional level has shown that in this way young people can be educated and build their place in the state and the private business ocean.”
With that, the Institute begins a new chapter in its almost five-year existence, with a complete rebranding and restructuring as IBMHS – STATE DUAL UNIVERSITY STUDIES.
For this purpose, in the following period, a more intensive communication with all stakeholders of the business sector and the state is foreseen, in the direction of cooperation for networking of German and domestic companies, through the new concept of learning and working that are in TIRZ and outside them, with targeted measures and programs according to the concept of dual higher education.
The first public debate is planned as a panel discussion, within the Heidelberg Institute, TIRZ, the German-Macedonian Economic Association (DMWV), the Chambers of Commerce and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Skopje will be dedicated to:
“German Dual Higher Education and the Link to the Business Sector”.
The event will be held on July 22, 2022, where a free debate and exchange of arguments between the attendees is expected with the aim of transforming current practices and responding to new market demands. More specifically, the need for transformation in educational processes, staff shortages, youth unemployment and labor migration of young people in EU countries will be discussed, with a particular focus on adapting the German dual higher education model in our country.
The entire event, i.e. the panel discussion between the participants will take place with physical presence, and all those interested will be able to follow it through the online platforms of the Heidelberg Institute. More information in the coming period.
