From December 9 to 11, a delegation from the Institute for Education Quality and Evaluation stayed in Budapest. The Acting Director of the Institute headed the delegation, Prof. Dr Boris Stojkovski, who, as a scholarship holder of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and a member of its external body, was in Budapest on a scientific research stay. Other members of the delegation included Dr Milan Gromović, Research Associate and Deputy Director, as well as Danijela Đukić, Head of the Centre for International and National Assessment and Research Activities and Assistant Director for International Research.
During their stay in Budapest, a meeting was held with representatives of the Hungarian Education Authority, namely János Dugas, Head of the Education Department, and Andrea Fási, Head of the Department for Education Evaluation and also responsible for international research within the Hungarian Education Authority. In a lengthy and substantive discussion, a number of proposals were presented for improving and strengthening further cooperation between the Institute and the Hungarian Education Authority, including the signing of a potential cooperation agreement. Erasmus programmes and possible cooperation in this area were also discussed. Given that the two institutions in their respective countries implement all major international and national research in the education system, further cooperation in this field was agreed, as well as the exchange of experience and information related to the national and international studies. The inclusion of third institutions in joint projects was also discussed.
The delegation of the Institute visited the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Budapest, where it was received by First Secretary of the Embassy, Ivana Kunc. Representatives of the Institute informed Ms Kunc about their stay in Budapest and potential further cooperation with Hungarian educational institutions, as well as with institutions of the Serbian community in Hungary. The Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Biljana Gutić Bjelica, also received the delegation of the Institute. On that occasion, representatives of the Institute informed Her Excellency about the existing cooperation between the Institute and the Republic Pedagogical Institute of Republika Srpska, as well as with other institutions in Republika Srpska.
Both embassies conveyed strong messages of support for the work of the Institute, and further cooperation was agreed upon.
At the end of the visit, the delegation of the Institute also visited the Eparchy of Buda and Szentendre. In discussions with the Secretary of the Eparchy, Protosyncellus Varnava Knežević, and the Director of the Serbian Church Museum in Szentendre, Mr Kosta Vuković, MA, a mutual desire and willingness were emphasised to enhance further cooperation between the Institute and Eparchy, particularly in the field of promoting Serbian cultural heritage in Hungary within the Serbian education system, as well as through other activities falling within the Institute’s scope and competence.
