President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova received today professors – winners of the award for special contribution to the development of scientific research activity and internationalization and affirmation of the “Ss. Cyril and Methodius” University in Skopje in 2022 and 2024.
The winners of plaques for exceptional career achievements and more than 100 published scientific papers, indexed in the Web of Science database, are: Academician Prof. Dr. Valentin Mirceski, Academician Prof. Dr. Sasko Kedev, Prof. Dr. Vladimir Trajkovic, Prof. Dr. Ljupco Pejov, Prof. Dr. Eftim Zdravevski, Prof. Dr. Hristijan Gjoreski, Prof. Dr. Petre Makreski, Prof. Dr. Zlatko Levkov, Prof. Dr. Trajce Stafilov, Prof. Dr. Marjan Gushev, Prof. Dr. Liljana Gavrilovska, Prof. Dr. Goce Spasovski and Academician Prof. Dr. Ljupco Kocarev.
The winners of plaques for internationally recognized excellence through representation in the list of Stanford University World’s Top 2% Scientists for an entire career are: Academician Prof. Dr. Valentin Mirceski, Academician Prof. Dr. Ljupco Kocarev, Prof. Dr. Ivan Grozdanov, Academician Prof. Dr. Leonid Grchev and Prof. Dr. Trajce Stafilov, and the winner of the plaque for managing the largest number of international projects is Prof. Dr. Liljana Gavrilovska.
Congratulating them on the prestigious awards, the President said that in science and education the line between large and small countries is becoming relative, as there are examples of small countries with successful education and science systems.
According to the President, despite the dramatic decline of UKIM on the Shanghai List, the world-renowned scientific and research successes of the above-mentioned scientists make Macedonian science and the country recognizable and competitive globally.
The professors thanked the President for the invitation and the opportunity to present their views and proposals for the advancement of science, expressing their firm belief that scientific research is the main agent of social development.
The President and those present agreed that the most fruitful investment is that in science and education.
The professors presented their scientific stories and views. According to them, on the long, difficult and creative scientific path to prestigious foreign universities, they were most often alone, with their knowledge, scientific drive, effort and desired results.
The attendees affirmed the obligation of the state to continuously and reliably support the best students, professors and researchers, wishing that the private sector would also be their ally.
Everyone agreed that an allocation of 0.3% is insufficient for scientific development. They pointed out the necessity of reviewing the dimensioning and quality of the Macedonian higher education network, as well as the necessity of tightening the criteria for advancement in the academic career.
Foreign educational and scientific examples of support and stimulation of the most competitive universities, faculties and individuals were pointed out.
There was a proposal to further nurture, expand and intensify educational and scientific cooperation at national, regional, European and global level, and especially with our scientific diaspora.
The numerous obstacles in the use of foreign funds, according to the professors, impose the need for debureaucratization of the complex procedure for use and their location among the bearers of the specific scientific activity.
For all participants, the involvement of those most affected, i.e. professors, is imperative for successful educational and scientific reform.
The President, in the end, emphasized that she, the Prime Minister, and the Minister of Education, as long-time professors, have not only a political, but also an ethical obligation to stand on the side of education and science as proven to be the most important development factors.
