A professor from the Faculty of Health Sciences, Prof. Ass. Dr. Fatime Arënliu Qosaj, participated in the regional conference “Bridging Futures: Internationalisation of Higher Education in the Western Balkans and Southeast Europe,” held in Skopje, North Macedonia. The conference was co-organized by the Regional Cooperation Council and the World Bank, under the patronage of the Ministry of Education and Science of North Macedonia.
Discussions at the conference focused on regional approaches to the mutual recognition of professional
qualifications, workforce planning and retention, as well as mobility frameworks in the context of EU
integration.
Prof. Ass. Dr. Arënliu Qosaj emphasized that the mobility of healthcare professionals is largely driven by
systemic factors, including working conditions, professional burnout, and the lack of opportunities for
professional development and scientific research.
She highlighted that retaining professionals requires a system-based approach beyond financial
incentives, stressing that the implementation of existing policies remains a challenge, alongside the
need to strengthen scientific research and develop career pathways, particularly for early-career
professionals.
The conference brought together regional and international experts with the aim of exchanging
experiences and offering concrete policy solutions to strengthen healthcare systems and ensure
sustainable workforce development in the Western Balkans region.
