On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the University of Tourism and Management in Skopje (UTMS), Alma Mater Europaea strengthened international academic cooperation and supported a joint initiative for peace. Rector Prof. Dr. Ludvik Toplak signed an agreement on academic cooperation and the Skopje Declaration for Peace, which calls for the protection of universities, schools, and scientific institutions from violence and armed conflict.
The international meeting took place as part of the ICON BEST 2026 congress, organized by the University of Tourism and Management in Skopje. The congress brought together more than 100 participants from 20 countries. On the occasion of the anniversary, the university signed nine agreements with higher education institutions, including Alma Mater. The agreements enable further cooperation in the fields of education, research, and the exchange of students and professors.
Joint Efforts for Peace
An important part of the event was the signing of the Skopje Declaration, “Universities, Academies and Schools as Havens of Peace.” The declaration emphasizes that educational and scientific institutions must remain safe spaces for learning, research, and the free exchange of knowledge even in times of armed conflict.
At the signing of the declaration, Alma Mater Rector Prof. Dr. Ludvik Toplak, Prof. Dr. Aleksander Zidanšek, Vice President of the World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS) for Science and Technology, and Donato Kiniger-Passigli, Vice President of WAAS and President of the Global Peace Offensive Center (GPOC), emphasized how important it is for universities and scientific institutions to take an active role in promoting peace, international dialogue and cooperation, and to use their knowledge to help prevent conflicts and seek lasting peaceful solutions.
The signing of the declaration is linked to the mission of GPOC, which operates within Alma Mater and promotes international, intercultural, and intergenerational dialogue. The center strives to connect scientists, universities, and international organizations in developing joint initiatives for conflict prevention, strengthening mutual understanding, and lasting peace.
Efforts for peace are also the central mission of the Global Peace Offensive Center (GPOC), which operates within Alma Mater. The center brings together experts, academic institutions, and international organizations and promotes dialogue and cooperation in the search for peaceful solutions to global challenges.
More about the meeting and the signed documents is published in the news article of the University in Skopje.
