13.7 BILATERAL AGREEMENTS AND WORLDWIDE COOPERATION
• 1 Bilateral agreements
The bilateral cooperation in the field of education is based on the bilateral cooperation agreements signed at the state level through the responsible Ministries of Education and Science.
The bilateral agreements usually cover several aspects of cooperation like: scholarship program for studies, summer school program, short-visits, learning a foreign language, exchange mobility program and joint projects and research. Such a bilateral agreements the Republic of North Macedonian signed with Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Turkey, Spain, UK, Switzerland, Russia, China, Japan and India.
At the same time the schools and higher education institutions from the Republic of North Macedonia have autonomy to sign the bilateral cooperation agreements with foreign educational institutions. At the school level these agreements are result from the Twin cities cooperation, Bi-lingual school cooperation and partners school cooperation established within Erasmus + projects. The bilateral cooperation in the field of higher education includes the cooperation with foreign universities based on the signed agreements and the established contacts with foreign universities, associations, foundations. This type of cooperation is performed by different mutual activities, in accordance with the short-term and long-term interests of North Macedonian universities and partner universities. Many experiences regarding the educational-scientific activities are exchanged; visits of academic staff are realized; mobility and exchange of students as well as joint participation in projects of different programs and foundations are realized within the frameworks of the bilateral agreement.
• 2 Cooperation and participation in worldwide programmes and organisations
Existing multilateral cooperation within worldwide programmes and organisations in the field of education is related with the participation of the country in the UNECSO, NATO, CERN, IAEA and JRC.
Republic of North Macedonia joined the UNESCO at 28.06. 1993. At the state level exists the National Commission for UNESCO that is composed by 22 members and the President of the Commission is the Minister of Culture. This Commission is in the network with other members’ states of UNESCO and plays a significant role in the liaison with partners, the coordination of activities and the promotion of UNESCO’s visibility at the country level. The state participated in the all actions and programs in the area of education, culture, natural sciences, social and human sciences, communication and information.
The NATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme promotes dialogue and practical cooperation between NATO member states and partner nations based on scientific research, technological innovation and knowledge exchange. The SPS Programme offers funding, expert advice and support to tailor-made, security-relevant activities that respond to NATO’s strategic objectives. Since 2005 the HEIs from N. Macedonia have chance to participate to the programme.
The possibilities for participation of the North Macedonian researchers are also open for participation in several activities based on the calls from CERN, IAEA and JRC.