On 9–10 October 2025, Tirana, Albania hosted the Study in Europe Events 2025, bringing together policymakers, higher education institutions, and international cooperation stakeholders from across Europe. The two-day programme featured two flagship events: the EU Policy Event “Advancing Quality Assurance and Recognition in the Western Balkans” and the Contact Building Seminar “Fostering Erasmus+ Cooperation with the Western Balkans.”

Advancing Quality Assurance and Recognition (9 October)

The first day welcomed policymakers and higher education experts for a high-level policy dialogue on quality assurance (QA) and recognition in higher education. Organised with the support of the European Commission, the event contributed to the implementation of the 2025 Council Recommendation on a European QA and recognition system and aligned with the goals of the European Education Area (EEA).

Opening remarks were delivered by Antoaneta Irikova (DG EAC, European Commission) and Bernard Segarra (EU Delegation to Albania). In her keynote speech, Maria Kelo, Director at the European University Association, emphasised the importance of quality assurance in building trust and facilitating international cooperation.

The programme featured a plenary panel on national developments in QA and recognition—drawing perspectives from the Western Balkans, Nordic, and Benelux regions—followed by two thematic sessions. Discussions focused on institutional QA practices and the practical implementation of automatic recognition of qualifications. The day concluded with reflections from Angeliki Psychogyiou (Academic Cooperation Association) and closing remarks by Antoaneta Irikova.

This event provided a crucial platform for knowledge-sharing, policy alignment, and strengthening cross-border cooperation in higher education.

Fostering Erasmus+ Cooperation (10 October)

On the second day, higher education institutions from the EU and the Western Balkans convened for the Contact Building Seminar, aimed at fostering new institutional partnerships under Erasmus+. With a particular focus on International Credit Mobility (ICM), Erasmus Mundus, and Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE), the event brought together over 150 participants onsite and online via the b2match platform.

Opening the seminar, Jacques Kemp from the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) outlined the seminar’s goals and practical benefits for participating institutions. The morning sessions provided detailed guidance on Erasmus+ opportunities and step-by-step advice for newcomers.

A panel discussion featured institutional representatives who shared first-hand experiences and strategies for navigating Erasmus+ challenges—from partnership development to project management. In the afternoon, participants engaged in pre-arranged bilateral matchmaking sessions, enabling targeted networking based on academic interests and strategic priorities.

The seminar concluded with an invitation to join the Study in Europe Fair Albania 2025, further extending opportunities for networking and cooperation.

Study in Europe Events 2025 once again demonstrated the EU’s commitment to enhancing international cooperation and strengthening the role of higher education in the Western Balkans.

More information about the Study in Europe initiative can be found here: STUDY IN EUROPE

On 6 October, the "EU Programmes Day" was organised by the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a focus on exploring the opportunities available to BiH through participation in European Union programmes.

The event brought together over 600 participants from government institutions, academia, culture, healthcare, civil society, and the business sector to discuss strengthening cooperation, sharing experiences, and promoting successful EU-funded projects.

Minister Dubravka Bošnjak highlighted the importance of such events in building institutional capacity and enhancing the country’s ability to access EU funds. She noted key programmes such as EU4Health, Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, Creative Europe, and others — with a combined budget exceeding €130 billion — as significant opportunities for BiH.

Two expert panels provided practical guidance on developing successful project proposals, avoiding common pitfalls, and fostering international collaboration.

While Bosnia and Herzegovina is making steady progress in utilising EU funding, there remains considerable potential for improvement. The Ministry announced that similar events will continue, aiming to ensure broader engagement and more effective use of the opportunities offered by EU programmes.

More about this event can be found on the LINK

Alongside the SPHERE 2025 Annual Conference that took place on 1–2 October 2025 in Bucharest, Romania,  The Bologna Process Symposium was held and bring together HERE and NEO representatives, as well as members of the Bologna Follow-Up Group (BFUG) and its working structures.

The symposium explored the mission, methods, and evolving priorities of the Bologna Process, with a focus on sharing experiences and promoting peer learning around higher education reform. Discussions highlighted the impact of Bologna-related policies on institutions and individuals, with input from HERE countries and reflections on outcomes from national events held earlier in the year.

As a key initiative for shaping the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), the Bologna Process remains central to SPHERE’s activities. With many HERE countries either members of or aligned with the Process, the symposium also underscored its broader relevance to systems facing similar reform challenges.

This event forms part of a broader SPHERE 2022–2025 initiative, in which each HERE country hosts a Bologna-related national or regional event feeding into shared learning and policy development.

The National Erasmus+ Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in cooperation with the Higher Education Reform Experts (HERE) team, successfully organized a two-day Technical Assistance Mission (TAM) focused on the evolving role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in modern higher education.

Held on September 23–24, 2025 in the on-line format, the event brought together local and international stakeholders to explore how AI can enhance—or potentially compromise—the quality, inclusiveness, and sustainability of teaching and learning in higher education.

The mission was led by distinguished EU experts Prof. Dr. Ebba Ossiannilsson, Global Expert in Inclusive, Scalable, and Sustainable Education (Sweden) and Prof. Dr. Mile Dželalija, professor of physics at the Faculty of Science, University of Split(Croatia)

Key topics covered included:

• Leadership through uncertainty
• AI in open education, personalized learning, and career development
• Ethical and sustainable applications of AI in achieving SDG4: Quality Education for All
• AI-driven internationalization and innovation in education and research
• Rethinking teaching and learning in the age of AI

On the second day, attention turned to cutting-edge developments such as Edge AI, on-device learning, and the creation of AI-resilient education systems for both teachers and students. The event concluded with a roundtable discussion on ethical considerations, policy frameworks, and actionable guidelines for integrating AI into higher education across Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This TAM event represents an important step toward aligning BiH’s higher education sector with global digital and educational transformations—promoting innovation, cross-border collaboration, and the responsible use of AI to shape the future of learning.

Please find the presentations and related resources from the event at the links below:

Leadership through uncertainty; AI in Open Education: Opportunities and Challenges, AI for increased quality, personal learning and for career development; Inclusive, scalable and sustainable education to reach the SDG4 goals education for all, AI and ethics; Blueprints/guidelines for an AI resilient education (for teachers and students) and policies framework;  AI and the future of education: Disruptions, dilemmas and directions

AI and Increased Internationalization in Education and Research

AI and the future of education: disruptions, dilemmas and directions

AI for Scientific Discovery; Collaboration between Academia and Industry in AI Research and Development

European Union in BiH opens call for the Youth Advisory Board

More info at: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/bosnia-and-herzegovina/european-union-bih-opens-call-youth-advisory-board_en

Registration link: 🔗 https://forms.gle/u9xgnLr2LqpnRHFcA

Info dan programa Evroske unije organizira Ministarstvo civilnih poslova BiH (MCP) 6.oktobra 2025 u zgradi Parlamentarne skupštine BiH.

Cilj događaja je promocija programa EU u  kojima učestvuje Bosna i Hercegovina, uključujući: EU4Health, Horizon Europe, Creative Europe, Erasmus+, COST, EaSI

Više detalja o ovom događaju, uključujući pozivno pismo i Agenda.

Pozivamo Vas da se registrujete (registarcija je obavezna) na ovom linku

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1MlXNOZW3Ai9ofc1xDQDI9yplVJ_xXNhCa7-_DgWGwAI/edit?ts=68c28f80&pli=1

Info day on EU programs - organized by the Ministry of Civil Affairs BiH (MCP) on October 6, 2025 at the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH.

The aim of this event is to promote EU programs in which Bosnia and Herzegovina participates, including: EU4Health, Horizon Europe, Creative Europe, Erasmus+, COST, EaSI

Invitation letter and Agenda.

We invite you to register at this link (registration is mandatory) https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1MlXNOZW3Ai9ofc1xDQDI9yplVJ_xXNhCa7-_DgWGwAI/edit?ts=68c28f80&pli=1

HERE national Bologna event – “Enhancement of QA in BiH and trends in EHEA” will be held online on 25 September, 2025 (11:00-15:30 Brussels time). The event is organized jointly by the national Team of Higher Education Reform Experts from BiH (HERE BiH), the National Erasmus+ Office in BiH (NEO), and the Agency for Development of Higher Education and Quality Assurance of BiH (HEA BiH).

Distinguished guest speakers from the European Association for Quality Assurance (ENQA) will present key developments and share best practices in quality assurance in higher education across the EHEA together with representatives from BiH institutions.

Please find attached the Agenda, which includes the link to access the online meeting room.

Please confirm your participation by registering through the following link no later than Wednesday, 24 September 2025.
Registration Form