This October, the International Business College Mitrovica (IBC-M) took part in an event hosted by Donja Gorica University in Podgorica, Montenegro, on fostering inclusive education within the Western Balkans. The event was a part of the Erasmus+ CBHE project, IDEA, which aims to promote and implement inclusive tertiary education across the region. The event was packed with educational sessions, discussions, and demonstrations aimed at supporting professors and students in tertiary education.

The event was coordinated by the Head of Internationalization and Projects Office of POLIS University Dr. Flora Krasniqi, and Prof. Dr Georgios Kouroupetroglou, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, who provided insightful remarks on supporting the project activities and steps to be taken regarding the closure of the project foreseen for January 2024, and project deliverables such as Accessibility Units at each of the Western Balkans HEIs.

Prof. Georgios Kouroupetroglou explored the assistive approaches in higher education by dividing his presentations into segments, ensuring a thorough exploration of both the challenges that students face and the effective strategies that can be employed to aid them. Prof. Kouroupetroglou presented different assistive technologies, exploring various tools available and demonstrating their seamless integration into educational settings. Practical demos and discussions rounded, providing attendees with a tangible understanding of the topics covered.

Florida Kalemi, Afrim Maliqi, and Andjela Radovanovic, representing different organizations across Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro, shared their expertise on support systems available in their respective institutions.

As we reflect on this impactful event, one can see that the journey towards inclusive tertiary education is well underway thanks to projects such as IDEA, promising a brighter, more inclusive future for all students in the region. The focus on supporting students showcased the commitment of the institutions involved and provided tangible solutions and strategies that can be implemented to make a difference.

IBC-M College was represented by Prof. Jelena Stanojevic, Gresa Ferri, and Damir Gashi from the Business Development/Projects office.