The ECONLIT Forum 2025, held on 13 December 2025 at the South East European University campus, brought together around 100 participants from across North Macedonia and the region. The Forum served as a national platform for dialogue on economic and financial literacy, education reform, and the role of institutions in building a resilient and sustainable society.
The Forum was jointly organised by the Liberal Alternative Institute and the South East European University, with the support of international partners and donors. Participants included representatives from government institutions, academia, secondary schools, the financial sector, civil society organisations, and media.
Opening Remarks and Institutional Support
The event opened with welcome remarks by Orhan Ceka, Executive Director of the Liberal Alternative Institute, and Prof. Dr. Blerta Abazi Çaushi, Dean of Faculty of Business and Economics at SEEU. Speakers highlighted economic literacy as a cornerstone of good governance, informed citizenship, and youth empowerment, emphasizing the need for long-term institutional cooperation to embed economic education within both formal and non-formal learning systems.
Panel Discussions and Knowledge Exchange
The Forum featured two high-level panel discussions.
Panel 1: Teaching Economics in the Modern Classroom, moderated by Verica Jordanova, focused on innovative teaching approaches and the relevance of economics education in today’s learning environment. Panelists included:
- Prof. Dr. Blerta Abazi Çaushi, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Economics, SEEU
- Prof. Dr. Aleksandar Naumovski, Full Professor at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University
- Dr. Visar Vokrri, Program Director at Riinvest Institute (Kosovo)
The discussion explored practical classroom methods, digital tools, and regional cooperation in strengthening economic education.
Panel 2: Economic Literacy for a Resilient and Sustainable Society, moderated by Arbra Sulejmani, brought together representatives from key public and financial institutions:
- Dr. Aneta Krstevska, Chief Economist, National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia
- Florin Idrizi, Regional Director, Sparkasse Bank
- Muhedin Avdikj, Head of Department, Public Revenue Office
This panel highlighted the role of financial, fiscal, and economic literacy in strengthening trust in institutions, promoting responsible decision-making, and improving societal resilience.
Digital Innovation and Teacher Recognition
A thematic session introduced EduSpace, LAI’s digital learning platform designed to support teachers and scale economic literacy nationwide through accessible, interactive educational materials featured our own Avni Arifi, together with professor Sherif Miftari and professor Snezhana Kichukova.
A Teacher Recognition Ceremony followed, honouring outstanding educators for their dedication to promoting economic and financial education. These recognitions underscored the central role teachers play in translating economic concepts into meaningful learning experiences for students.
