Representatives from leading companies took part in forum discussion “Dual Education – The Connection Between Companies and Students,” held at Heidelberg Faculty in Skopje. Many students attended, along with prospective applicants and their parents, eager to learn more about the benefits of dual education offered by Heidelberg, as well as the internship opportunities provided by successful companies in the country, recognizing the importance of collaboration between universities and the private sector.
There must be a culture of lifelong learning – working professionals and young people must continuously invest in themselves, both through theory and practice, to more easily adapt to the rapid changes brought by new technologies and the modern era, the panelists concluded.
Sanja Stratrova Mihajlovski, Head of Training and Career Development at Sparkasse Bank, said that during a recent meeting with students, she sent the message that “learning never ends, especially in a time when everything moves so fast.”
“We are a bank that focuses on the younger population and on developing communication skills. Young people bring us a different kind of energy — they come with new skills that even motivate me,” Stratrova added.
Dejan Madzovski, HR Director at NLB Bank, said that students are increasingly seeking practical experience, which is why the bank cooperates with several educational institutions.
“What matters most to us in young candidates — especially considering the constant changes brought by digitalization and artificial intelligence — is their willingness to keep learning,” said Madzovski.
At the marketing agency Element PR, two students from Heidelberg Faculty are currently doing internships. Tatjana Loparski, Director of Element PR and professor at Heidelberg, emphasized the value of combining theory and practice.
“Many things are changing due to artificial intelligence, and that’s why we must make additional efforts to train our workforce. Heidelberg is a strong example of integrating theory with practice. Students are working on platforms that didn’t even exist in my time, such as TikTok, Spotify, and others, and this combination makes our teamwork even more successful,” said Loparski.
At Kromberg & Schubert, dual vocational education has been implemented since 2019 through a partnership with the “Gjorgi Naumov” vocational school in Bitola.
“From their second year, students come to the company one day a week, while the rest of their time is spent at school. They do their regular practice with us in a dedicated facility. We cover everything — transport, food — and after graduation, we offer them job positions. We start developing them already in high school and guide them towards university,” said Martina Domazetovska, Dual Education Coordinator, adding that they also cooperate with the “St. Clement of Ohrid” University in Bitola, where five students receive scholarships and internship opportunities.
According to Petar Taleski from the Management Board of Sava Pension Company AD Skopje, this type of initiative is key to preventing the mass emigration of young people from the country.
“From a macroeconomic perspective, every high school graduate has been financed by the state with between 17,000 and 26,000 euros, starting from primary education. The state has invested in that person, and we as economic entities must take that into account. Companies must provide work experience during education to help these people stay and work in this country,” said Taleski.
Rade Georgiev, Executive Director of VALTECH, said that in the future, the most sought-after professionals will be so-called T-shape professionals — people with expertise in one area, but also with a broad set of additional skills, including social ones.
“It won’t be about who knows the most, but who adapts the fastest, who is flexible, who doesn’t just carry out tasks but also brings solutions,” said Georgiev.
Echoing this sentiment, Eliza Prendjov, President of the American Balkan Chamber of Commerce NY, pointed out that companies increasingly expect students not only to have a solid foundation but also additional knowledge and skills, as seen in job advertisements.
“This is a global need. The basic expectation from candidates is that they show a commitment to lifelong investment in their learning and come to work with not just theoretical, but also practical knowledge. That is the culture of lifelong learning,” said Prendjov.
Heidelberg Faculty in Skopje is the only educational institution in the country offering a dual approach in higher education, through a combination of studies in North Macedonia and one semester in Germany. This combined model allows students to earn dual diplomas from institutions in both countries, ensuring top-tier education aligned with international standards. At the same time, partnerships with leading companies and institutions offer real opportunities for professional development.
