The organization of an international conference entitled “Italian studies in the new millennium: new challenges in linguistics, literature and cultural research” was the result of a fruitful cooperation between the Italian Embassy in Skopje and the Department of Italian Language and Literature of the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje. The conference, which took place on 27 and 28 September, was attended by over 80 professors coming from across Europe and Brazil to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Italian Studies at the University of Skopje, as a preparatory session for the upcoming Week of Italian Language in the World (21-27 October).
Remarks were made by the Minister of Education and Science, Arber Ademi, who also thanked the Italian Embassy for its commitment in promoting and divulging Italian culture in Northern Macedonia. He highlighted the excellent cooperation the two countries enjoy in all sectors, which the Minister wished could to grow further with a view to supporting the social and economic development of the Country. Ambassador Carlo Romeo recalled the fruitful cooperation with the Macedonian Association of Teachers of Italian and with the Dante Alighieri Institute. Some of the major achievements reached include the introduction of Italian as a Second Language as an option in the Macedonian school curricula (in 2018), over 2000 students taking Italian courses at school and almost 400 who chose Italian as a university course, approximately 200 Italian books translated into Macedonian in 2018, numerous events promoting Italian language and culture, among which, most importantly, lectures by Claudio Magris, Giorgio Montefoschi, Simona Baldelli, Vera Gheno.
Professor Sarzoska, Director of the Italian Language and Literature Department acknowledged the remarkable support granted by the Italian Embassy since the inception of the Department also through the contribution of Italian language teachers sent by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Professor Sarzoska also recalled the remarkable results achieved, namely 700 students graduating from the 4-year course, 27 students in the post-graduate course, 9 PhD courses, and last but not least, the 26 students who have just enrolled in the first year of the new academic year.