A roundtable discussion was held at the University “Haxhi Zeka” in Peja, Kosovo, within the framework of the “Initiative for Collaboration, Research and Innovation in Western Balkan Universities (ICRI-WB)” project, funded by the National Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation (NASRI/AKKSHI) and coordinated by the Canadian Institute of Technology in cooperation with Aleksandër Moisiu University of Durrës.

Held on May 7, 2026, the event brought together representatives from partner institutions and academic stakeholders to present and discuss the project’s key results and future perspectives. During the meeting, the ICRI-WB working group presented a comparative policy analysis across participating institutions, consolidated survey findings from partner universities, results from three structured focus groups, and a live demonstration of the digital platform designed to support regional academic collaboration and research networking.

The discussion focused on strategic priorities for higher education development in the Western Balkans, highlighting the importance of strengthening institutional alignment with European Higher Education Area standards, enhancing inter-university cooperation, and increasing participation in European programmes such as Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe.

The roundtable also served as an opportunity to exchange experiences, reinforce regional partnerships, and encourage further collaboration in research, innovation, and academic development across Western Balkan universities.