The Macedonian Language Institute has submitted comments on the Higher Education Bill, which were determined at a meeting of its academic staff. Institute director Elena Jovanova-Grujovska said they requested no intervention after it was mentioned that the number of study programs with two to five students enrolled could be reduced.
“In the era of globalization, it is very important that the first, second and third cycle studies remain in Macedonian, because if they are not taught in Macedonia, where can we expect them to be taught elsewhere. Then we asked for the equalization of the criteria for advancing to the next titles. The Institute has employed a solid number of staff in the past four years and now they should be allowed to do their doctorate and receive their first title in a relaxed manner. We asked for the equalization because the new law begins to apply to all the others after one title. We wanted it to apply to our junior collaborators as well, specifically from associate professor or senior research associate,” said Jovanova-Grujovska.
Like their colleagues from the Institute of Macedonian Literature, she said, they also asked for Macedonian journals to be evaluated when it comes to the criteria for publishing papers.
“In which language should we create and publish? By publishing in English in elite journals with “The impact factor does not nurture the Macedonian language. We need publishing in ournative language, specifically in Macedonian in our renowned journals, but also in all other Slavic languages,” said the director of the “KrsteMisirkov” Institute.
