|
The region that now comprises Macedonia has been
at the crossroads of multiple political, religious
and cultural traditions for over 2,500 years.
In the past two centuries alone, the region has
been fought over by the Bulgarians, Serbians,
Albanians and Greeks - all contending that the
region is historically a part of their nations.
In fact, the northern region of Macedonia's neighbor
to the south, Greece, is also called Macedonia,
and the western part of Macedonia is home to a
large Albanian minority. But the people of the
region that is now internationally recognized
as Macedonia have carved out a space for their
history, culture and language that reflects their
hopes for developing a post-Yugoslav economy,
a democratic polity and a vibrant multicultural
society.
As Macedonia emerged from the collapse of Yugoslavia,
it faced enormous challenges to its survival as
an independent country. Of the six republics of
the former Yugoslavia, Macedonia was one of the
least developed economically. The post-Yugoslav
conflicts have hurt its economic development despite
the fact that very little fighting has occurred
in Macedonia itself. The fighting that did erupt
in 2001 was relatively short-lived and in 2002,
the on-going commitment of Macedonians of different
ethnic backgrounds and of the international community
to support a democratic and multiethnic Macedonia
is showing some results.
Since the 1990s, Macedonia has faced the significant
challenge of developing its young universities
into a comprehensive national higher education
system. An additional challenge has been finding
innovative ways of educating different linguistic
groups for political, business and cultural leadership
in this diverse country. To this end, Fulbright
grantees have been involved in teaching American
studies, tourism, economics and linguistics, among
other disciplines, at the University of Saints
Kiril and Metodiji in Skopje and at the University
of St. Kliment Ohridski in Bitola. In addition
to teaching, Fulbright grantees have been active
in their host departments and in the larger academic
community. Some scholars also have arranged to
give public lectures on their research and to
work directly with non-governmental organizations
while others have met with small business owners
to develop business plans or have become involved
in local culture.
The Fulbright Program in Macedonia is looking
to attract scholars and professionals who want
to immerse themselves in a new culture, work with
students and faculty on issues in their specialty
but also on larger issues of higher education
reform and who relish challenge. This Web page
is designed to help Americans learn more about
the country and what it has to offer you as a
Fulbright participant. All of the sections contain
direct links to additional information. You will
find general information about many aspects of
Macedonian life and culture, as well as specialized
materials on politics, economics, the media and
law. The education section provides an overview
of the educational system in Macedonia and direct
links to potential host institutions for U.S.
scholars. The last section, "Fulbright Information,"
provides links to former Fulbright grantee web
pages and scholarly work.
CIES encourages interested applicants
to make use of the following links to complement
their research into potential opportunities available
in Macedonia. Please also feel free to use the
contact information to get in touch with CIES
program personnel.
In Your Pocket Guide to Macedonia
http://www.inyourpocket.com/country/macedonia.html
State Department - Country Background
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/26759.htm
The Macedonian Directory
http://directory.macedonia.org/
Open Society Institute / Soros
Foundation, Skopje
http://www.soros.org.mk/
Cyber Macedonia - links to many
web sites on Macedonia
http://www.cybermacedonia.com
The Lonely Planet Guide to Macedonia
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/macedonia/index.htm
CIA Factbook
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mk.html
|
Arts, Language and
Culture
|
|
Macedonian Cultural and Information
Centre
http://www.macedonia.co.uk/mcic/
Religion in Macedonia
http://faq.macedonia.org/religion/
Macedonian: A Course for Beginning and Intermediate
Students by Christina Elizabeth Kramer
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0299161749/
ref=pd_sim_books/102-4142024-8720120
Story of the Galichnik wedding
http://www.unet.com.mk/galichnik/
Government Web Site, Republic of Macedonia
http://www.vlada.mk/english/index_en.htm
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Macedonia
http://www.mfa.gov.mk/default_en.asp
The International Crisis Group (ICG) is a private, multinational organization committed to strengthening the capacity of the international community to anticipate, understand and act to prevent and contain conflict
http://www.crisisweb.org/
Numerous articles regarding Macedonian history
from a Macedonian
perspective
http://faq.macedonia.org/history/
Alternative views of Macedonian history
http://dmoz.org/Society/History/By_Region/Europe/Macedonia/
"Twenty-Five Lectures on Modern Balkan History
-- The Balkans in the Age of Nationalism"
by Steven W. Sowards, Mississippi State University
http://www.lib.msu.edu/sowards/balkan/
American Chamber of Commerce in Macedonia
http://www.amcham.com.mk/
World Bank, Macedonia Program
http://www.worldbank.org.mk/
Macedonian News
http://www.maknews.com/
MacFax Internet daily Newspaper
http://www.makfax.com.mk/
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty - a U.S. daily
news service on Central and Eastern Europe
http://www.rferl.org/
The Official site of the Macedonian Orthodox
Church
http://www.mpc.org.mk/
Islam in Macedonia
http://www.macedonia.co.uk/mcic/aboutmacedonia/religion/islam.asp
|
Higher Education
and Research
|
|
Saints Kiril and Metodiji University
http://www.ukim.edu.mk/
Macedonian Academy of Arts and Sciences
http://www.manu.edu.mk/
Educational Advising Center, Skopje
http://www.oic.org.mk/
National and University Library "St. Kliment
Ohridski"
http://www.nubsk.edu.mk/
State Archives of the Republic of Macedonia
http://www.arhiv.gov.mk/
Southeastern European University, Tetovo
http://www.see-university.com/
|
Information
for Fulbrighters
|
|
Embassy of Macedonia in Washington, DC
http://macedonianembassy.org/
The U.S. Embassy in Skopje
http://skopje.usembassy.gov
The American School in Macedonia
http://www.asm.edu.mk/
Information on the Educational System
http://www.euroeducation.net/prof/macenco.htm
|
