The JRC Summer School 2026, an international scientific summer school dedicated to monitoring and tackling air, water and soil pollution, started today at the University “Goce Delcev” – Stip.
The school, which will last until September 18, is being implemented in cooperation between the UGD and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission, with the participation of experts and students from the Western Balkan countries.The opening of the five-day summer school was addressed by the Rector of the UGD, Prof. Dr. Dejan Mirakovski, the Minister of Education and Science Vesna Janevska and Claudio Bellis, project leader and head of the Air Quality Department at the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission in Ispra, Italy.
The Rector Prof. Dr. Dejan Mirakovski emphasized that it is a special honor for UGD to host the event, emphasizing that such an activity is being implemented for the first time in North Macedonia.
“I hope that this will be one of the first steps for more intensive cooperation and joint scientific research with the Joint Research Center of the European Commission,” emphasized Rector Mirakovski.
He pointed out that representatives from the Western Balkan countries are participating in the summer school, and the lectures and practical work are carried out by experts from the JRC, professors from UGD and advanced students from the region.
Referring to the state of air quality in the country, Rector Mirakovski emphasized that serious challenges still exist, especially with regard to suspended particles PM2.5 and PM10.
“Unfortunately, we still have many problems with the air and we exceed the permitted parameters, primarily in terms of suspended solid particles, popularly called PM2.5 and PM10. Fortunately, we have had a slight improvement in the last few years, although in several urban areas we still have significant exceedances,” said Mirakovski.
Minister of Education and Science Vesna Janevska assessed that air, water and soil pollution is a global problem, which requires a joint approach, knowledge and cooperation.
She welcomed the organization of the summer school by the UGD, emphasizing the importance of cooperation with the Joint Research Center of the European Commission.
“Every communication and joint sharing of knowledge with the Joint Research Center of Europe represents bringing top experts to Macedonia, those who know the problems of a certain area most deeply and seriously,” Janevska emphasized.
According to her, such cooperation means additional development of science and research and contributes to harmonization with European processes in the field of the environment.
“We have started in that direction and I believe that in the short term we will gradually improve, but in the long term we should have serious effects that will benefit the better, i.e. healthier life of the population,” said the minister.
Claudio Bellis, project leader and head of the Air Quality Department at the JRC, expressed satisfaction with the cooperation with the institutions in North Macedonia and the UGD, emphasizing that the main goal of the summer school is to build capacities and advance the knowledge of experts and students from the Western Balkans.
He pointed out that the JRC, as a scientific service of the European Commission, provides scientific support for the development of European policies, and through such activities it makes its knowledge and expertise available to the countries of the region.
“It is very important that all countries and all economies in the region have the opportunity to benefit from the knowledge we have at the JRC,” Bellis emphasized.
Within the framework of the summer school, participants will have the opportunity to learn about advanced technologies and methods for analyzing pollution, as well as ways to identify its impact on human health.
Belis emphasized that the participants will work on topics related to air, soil and water pollution, in order to gain knowledge that they can further apply at the national level and contribute to the work of ministries and government agencies in dealing with pollution and creating environmental protection policies.
JRC Summer School 2026 will last five days, until September 18, and represents a significant opportunity for the exchange of knowledge and experiences between the scientific community, European institutions and young researchers from the Western Balkans.
Holding the school in Stip is a significant step in deepening the international scientific and research cooperation at the University “Goce Delcev” – Stip and opens up opportunities for its further development through joint research, expert exchange and new initiatives in the field of environmental protection.
