In an effort to help strengthen the educational infrastructure and raise the student experience in the country, the European Union in cooperation with KFW and the WBIF program for the Western Balkans is proudly launching the project “Energy efficient rehabilitation of student dormitories in North Macedonia”. With a firm commitment to nurturing the next generation of students, this initiative heralds a new era of improved living standards and conducive learning environments for students across the country.
The main goal of the project is to revitalize the existing student accommodation facilities, to solve long-standing challenges and to provide modern conditions to meet the needs of future students. By improving the environment and conditions for living and learning, the project aims to encourage students to progress academically, socially and personally.
The project is implemented by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of North Macedonia through the support of a 20 million euro loan from the KfW German Development Bank and a 5 million euro grant through the WBIF Regional Energy Efficiency Program for the Western Balkans (REEP+) of the European Union.
After the signing of the contract at the end of last year between the Ministry of Education and Science and the economic operator “Strabag”, which will carry out the construction activities, the start of the construction activities in the student dormitory “Kuzman Josifovski Pitu” in Skopje marks the beginning of the first phase of the project. The reconstruction includes, first of all, improving the overall energy efficiency of the buildings, as well as necessary improvements to the structure of the buildings, investments to improve the living and learning conditions, improving the functionality, that is, overall improving the comfort in the buildings. According to the established dynamics, the activities for the reconstruction of the student dormitories “Kuzman Josifovski Pitu” and “Steve Naumov” are expected to last 18 months, and the project foresees the further reconstruction of seven more student dormitories in Skopje, Prilep, Bitola, Shtip and Ohrid.
Central to the commitment of the European Union and its partner organizations is the firm commitment to sustainability and the promotion of energy efficiency as key pillars of modern development. By prioritizing energy efficiency in the structure and operation of the student dormitories and by incorporating new, modern and energy efficient technologies and practices, the project contributes to the preservation of the environment and the improvement of the standard of living of the students.
The key goal of this project is to contribute to climate change protection activities by reducing CO2 emissions and creating better living and learning conditions and improving the standard of living of students in North Macedonia. Student dormitories will get a completely new look and improved sustainability and energy efficiency, which will contribute to a cleaner environment and financial savings, while students will get better conditions for learning and living.
In essence, a commitment to sustainability represents a comprehensive approach to overall development—one that prioritizes the well-being of both current and future generations, fosters economic prosperity, and protects the planet we call home. Through joint efforts such as this project, the European Union strives to realize this vision, laying the foundations for a brighter, more sustainable future for all.
