In 2023 – 2024, the Regional Youth Leadership Mobility Programme (RYLMP) has enabled 19 young researchers from Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia to develop their ideas in the form of research reports and practical policy proposals six thematic areas: regional cooperation, European integration, education and employment, youth migration, political participation and youth activism, as well as digital and green transformation.
Through the collaborative efforts of six working groups and a mentorship process, six research reports and practical policy proposals were produced. The report from the first group, authored by Beba Žegar, Sede Mulaomeri, and Aleksandra Veljović, maps and analyzes the forms and sources of disinformation regarding European integration in all three countries. Meanwhile, the practical policy proposal signed by Bylyre Serjanaj, Egla Mansi, Elena Saveska, and Isidora Petković focuses on the role of career counseling and internships in facilitating the transition from university studies to employment.
The third group of researchers, consisting of Endželuše Hadži, Rina Osmani, and Natalija Žunić, examined the causes and data related to youth migration from the region within Serbia, Albania, and North Macedonia. Program participants and researchers Jesmina Sengla, Jana Pavlovska, and Mila Pajić focused their comparative analysis on students’ perceptions and attitudes toward student governance and decision-making. The topic of youth awareness (or lack thereof) regarding the green transition among young people in Albania, North Macedonia, and Serbia was explored by Amanda Kote, Antonio Grujevski, and Kalina Dukovska. Finally, through a collaborative study, Bljerina Daši, Dimče Milanov, and Jovana Đurđević mapped the leading youth exchange programs in the Western Balkans and their effectiveness in promoting reconciliation in the region.
Below you can read the complete analyses and practical policy proposals:
1) Countering Disinformation About EU Integration in the Media – here;
2) The Role of Career Counseling and Internship Programmes in Facilitating Students’ Transition from University to Workforce – here;
3) Youth Migration and Brain Drain: A Comparative Analysis of Albania, North Macedonia, and Serbia – here;
4) Student Perceptions of the Student Governance: A Comparative Analysis of Albania, North Macedonia, and Serbia – here;
5) The Green Transition Knowledge Gap among Youth in Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia – here;
6) Mapping Analysis of Youth Exchange Programs in the Western Balkans – here.
The RYLMP is implemented with the support of the Open Society Foundations for Western Balkans, Albania, North Macedonia, and Serbia. It is jointly carried out by SCiDEV from Tirana, Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) from Belgrade, and Youth Educational Forum (YEF) from Skopje.
