A System Divided: The Case of Albanians in Macedonian Higher Education

• In Event: The internationalization of higher education and national reactions to critical trends: A student research panel

Abstract

At a time when much of Europe is internationalizing higher education through broader harmonization and mobility focused programs like Erasmus and policy alignment with the Bologna Process, Macedonia deals with an internationalization dilemma within their borders. This paper begins with brief historical context for minority race relations in the smallest former Yugoslav republic. It then looks at the development of higher education opportunities for its linguistically Albanian population since independence in 1991 and evaluates some of the efforts made to incorporate its members into the greater higher education landscape. This paper then explores future options for linguistic integration through broader internationalization policies, namely, efforts made in and outcomes of Englishization, specific relationships with higher education institutions across the globe, and possibilities for further domestic integration with other Macedonian universities. Through a literature review and brief time in country, I synthesize some of the recent research written and surmise where Macedonia as a case study could be used or could learn from countries with other large ethnic and linguistic minorities.

Author

• Tess Cannon, The George Washington University