The first public-private high education institution in Macedonia with dominant lectures in Albanian – the South-East Europe University (SEEU) in Tetovo was awarded today with a high decoration by President Ivanov - Order of Merits for Macedonia, marking its tenth anniversary.

 
It was founded a decade ago at the initiative of Max van der Stoel, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities and former Dutch Foreign Minister, who died this year. Therefore, informally, this University bears his name - Stoel University.

 
”Founded in a turbulent period for Macedonia, I believe this University has justified the expectations of the ideological father, the late Max van der Stoel. And yet, more importantly, it has justified and exceeded the expectations of the Macedonian multiethnic, multilingual and multi-confessional society ... Ever since the very beginning it was one of the examples and engines of the reforms in the higher education, in accordance with the principles of the Bologna declaration”, President Ivanov said, bestowing the decoration to the Rector of the SEEU, Zamir Dika.

 
The Head of State underlined that this university became a strong promoter of tolerance, respect for multilingualism, cultural diversity in teaching and scientific research, developing curricula with an international perspective, significantly contributing to the progress of scientific thought and interethnic understanding.

 
Rector Dika thanked President Ivanov on the decision to decorate the SEEU, stressing that bestowing this high recognition to one atypical educational institution, he showed intellectual courage, honesty and sense of vision.

 
This University is atypical due to the way it was established; there was enormous financial and intellectual support from the U.S., the European Commission and other states, by people with a vision to establish a higher education institution that will not only promote the Albanian language in higher education, but will be an opportunity for education in Macedonian and English language through study programs and conditions that can proudly be compared with the highest European and American standards ... SEEU is marked as the most successful project of the international community in Southeast Europe, which was called by the EU Commissioner Olli Rehn in 2009 “European building in the Western Balkans””, Rector Dika said.

 
In accordance with the then adopted Law on Establishing Universities with Non-State Funding, in March 2001, the construction of the University began, and since November 20th that year, it became functional with about 900 students enrolled. Now, there are about 8,000 students and 5,000 graduates. There are a hundred PhDs and Masters, five faculties with 17 undergraduate and 19 graduate programs. Since 2008, there are dispersed study programs of the SEEU in Skopje.