In October 2025, ACA hosted two hybrid events in Tirana, Albania, as part of the Study in Europe initiative on behalf of the European Commission. These events formed part of a three-day series highlighting European engagement in the Western Balkans. 

The EU Policy event, held on 9 October, under the theme “Advancing Quality Assurance and Recognition in the Western Balkans”, explored recent developments shaping quality assurance and recognition in higher education. Speakers stressed that quality assurance and recognition are not just technical processes, but enablers of trust and collaboration across borders. Keynote speaker Maria Kelo reminded participants that while “tradition is important, we can’t use it as an excuse to not do the right thing”. Examples from the Nordic, Benelux and Western Balkan countries highlighted both progress and remaining challenges in aligning national legislation and systems, emphasising the collective and ongoing effort required to advance quality assurance and recognition in higher education. 

The Contact-Building Seminar “Fostering Erasmus+ Cooperation with the Western Balkans” held on the following day, 10 October, aimed to connect higher education institutions from the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Montenegro) with counterparts across Erasmus+ programme countries. The event featured engaging plenary sessions with contributions from representatives of the European Commission, EACEA, National Agencies, and National Erasmus+ Offices, offering practical insights into International Credit Mobility, Erasmus Mundus, and Capacity Building in Higher Education. A panel discussion followed, during which institutional representatives shared their experiences, from building partnerships and managing projects to navigating administrative complexities. Speakers reflected on common challenges such as administrative procedures, and differing regulatory frameworks, while sharing examples of how universities have addressed them through clear communication, mutual trust, and long-term strategic planning. They also discussed the importance of improving the accessibility of Erasmus+ opportunities for smaller and newcomer institutions, alongside stronger capacity-building support and clearer procedural guidance to further enhance cooperation across the Western Balkans. The seminar concluded with onsite and online matchmaking meetings, offering participants concrete opportunities to initiate new partnerships and deepen Erasmus+ cooperation with the Western Balkans.  

The series of events ended with the Study in Europe Fair, organised by Campus France on behalf of the European Commission, where students and visitors explored study opportunities across Europe.  

A warm thank you to all speakers and participants, onsite and online, for your contributions and active engagement throughout the Study in Europe events.