RRPP Annual Conference 2013

Research Fellow of Migration Programme Joshevska Jovanka attended the 5^th Annual RRPP Scientific Conference 2013 on 24 - 26 May 2013 in Belgrade, Serbia. The conference title was "Social, Political and Economic Change in the Western Balkans". The conference gathered researchers from the region and beyond. The conference objectives are to provide opportunities for researchers dealing with the region to meet, network, exchange and discuss their research projects and results, to discuss the challenges and contradictions in the transformation process of the social sciences field within the Balkans and to discuss potential areas that may be addressed to more effectively influence policy development with the aid of scientific research results.

The beginning of the conference was reserved for welcoming address and opening speech from the keynote speakers. The main part of the conference was reserved for presentations from researchers dealing with the Western Balkans. There were five workshops wherein researchers involved in RRPP research projects and other researchers presented their scientific projects, papers or PhD thesis. Joshevska Jovanka presented the initial findings for the case of Macedonia from RRPP funded project "Migration and development in Albania and Macedonia: the effects of remittances on education and health of family members left behind" in the workshop called ”Migration, Diasporas and Remittances".

The conference was completed with the round table “Do Politicians Need Scientists?” The aim of the round table was to explore to what extent policy-development and research are connected in the Western Balkans. What are the hindering factors and opportunities for bridging the gap between research and policy in the region?

RRPP organized a Research Fair, which gave the opportunity for all interested to present their organizations, research publications and books. For this purpose, Analytica disseminated its latest publications. Also, speed dating among the participants was organized.

Information about this conference can be found at the website of RRPP