2010-2019

School for Young Leaders

of President Ivanov

Foundations of a Leadership Legacy

The First Ten Schools for Young Leaders (2010โ€“2019)

The first ten editions of the School for Young Leaders, held between 2010 and 2019, laid the foundations of a unique leadership platform dedicated to values, dialogue, and long-term societal impact. These formative years shaped the Schoolโ€™s identity, bringing together diverse young leaders from across countries and disciplines, and establishing a strong tradition of excellence, responsibility, and global engagement. The legacy of the first decade continues to guide the Schoolโ€™s mission and inspire new generations of leaders.

SCHOOL
10

10th School for Young Leaders


The program of the 10th School for Young Leaders addressed the challenges of the 4th Industrial Revolution. In this groundbreaking training program, participants gained valuable knowledge and a lot of essential skills to navigate the complexities of the digital era. Through engaging sessions and practical activities, they developed a deep understanding of cutting-edge technologies. Participants learned to leverage these technologies for innovation and problem-solving, enabling them to thrive in the rapidly evolving professional landscape. The comprehensive program of the 10th School for Young Leaders provided a platform for participants to acquire the necessary tools and skills to lead with confidence and shape a better future in the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution.

General Topic
"4th Industrial Revolution Challenges"
Dates
Feb 11-22, 2019
Place
Struga
Participants
39
Lecturers
26
Sessions
32

More Insights

The 10th generation of young leaders had an intriguing opportunity to visit the New Istanbul Airport in 2019. This airport, which had opened in October 2018, showcased the full scope of its operations to the participants. They gained insights into the ongoing construction progress, as well as the comprehensive plans for its phased completion by 2028. Once fully operational, the airport aims to cater to a staggering 200 million passengers annually, with flights to 300 destinations. The visit was made possible through the organization and support of the Turkish Airlines office in Skopje, ensuring a memorable and enlightening experience for the young leaders.

SCHOOL
9

9th School for Young Leaders


The comprehensive training program was focused on the best practices and knowledge necessary for developing ecosystems that fostered the growth of startups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as the business research and innovation. Throughout the program, participants gained a deep understanding of the strategies and approaches required to create supportive environments that enabled the success of entrepreneurs. Also explored how to cultivate a culture of innovation, harness emerging technologies, and leverage business research to propel growth and drive innovation. By joining this program, participants acquired the essential insights and skills needed to build vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystems, empowering startups and SMEs to thrive while fostering groundbreaking research and driving innovation forward.

General Topic
"Startups and SMEs"
Dates
Aug 20-31, 2018
Place
Struga
Participants
36
Lecturers
26
Sessions
27

More Insights

In 2018, the ninth generation of young leaders had a field visit to three Macedonian companies situated in the Municipality of Prilep: Comfy Angel, Mikrosam, and Vitaminka. This visit provided participants with firsthand insights into the operations of these companies, including their technological advancements, production practices, historical background, and future plans. The participants of the School for Young Leaders had the unique opportunity to directly engage with the companies and gain a comprehensive understanding of their current work. This field visit served as a valuable learning experience, offering a glimpse into the dynamic world of these Macedonian enterprises.

SCHOOL
8

8th School for Young Leaders


Among the lecturers of the 8th School for Young Leaders were the former President of Albania, Redzep Meidani, the Chief Executive Officer of "TAV Airports", Sani Sener, the former President of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Stefan Vodenicharov, the dean of Schwartzman College at Chingua University, David Pan, the ะmbassador ะฐั‚ ะปะฐั€ะณะต, Georg von Habsburg, the professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Giorgija Petkoski, as well as one of the leading experts on business management and leadership, David Goldsmith. Other prominent individuals, leaders of successful companies, and representatives of established institutions from Macedonia, Switzerland, Norway, Austria and other countries gave lectures at the school.

Dates
Aug 21-31, 2017
Place
Ohrid
Participants
40
Lecturers
25
Sessions
27
SCHOOL
7

7th School for Young Leaders


At the ะžpening Ceremony of the School a speech was delivered by Petar Stojanov, President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Ismail Serageldin, Director of the Alexandria Library, Fan Meihua, Director of Human Resources at the European offices of “Huawei”. At 7th school lectures, 28 renowned lecturers from top educational and other institutions from the Republic of Macedonia, the European Union, the USA, Australia and Egypt gave experiences and views about the leaders to 45 candidates of the school. There were also lectures delivered by Latvia, Mrs. Vaira Vike-Freiberga, the Mayor of Thessaloniki, Mr. Yannis Butaris, director of Eurocontrol Mr. Frank Brenner, researcher at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Gjorgija Petkoski, chairman of the Executive Committee of the Trilateral Commission of the Republic of Serbia, Mr. Jovan Kovacic, as well as one of the world’s business forecasters and doctor of management and leadership, Mr. David Goldsmith.

Dates
Aug 14-26, 2016
Place
Ohrid
Participants
45
Lecturers
23
Sessions
36
SCHOOL
6

6th School for Young Leaders


The former President of Bulgaria, Petar Stojanov, as well as the former Head of Italian Diplomacy and European Commissioner for Justice, Franco Frattini, addressed the participants. Lectures were held by Mr. Abdulaziz Othman Altwaiyri, General Director of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization “ISESCO”, Feng Tian, representative for Europe of the Chinese company “China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation”, Ambassador Mark Otte, Director of the Royal Institute of International Relations of the Kingdom of Belgium EGMONT and many other. During the school, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the School for Young Leaders and the Nizami Ganjavi International Center from Azerbaijan, represented by Mr. Rovshan Muradov, General Secretary of the center.

Dates
Aug 17-28, 2015
Place
Ohrid
Participants
44
Lecturers
21
Sessions
25

More Insights

In 2015, the sixth generation of young leaders embarked on a visit to the Municipality of Pustec in the Republic of Albania. During their visit, they had the privilege of meeting the Mayor, the administration, and the citizens of the Municipality, which has a significant Macedonian population. The participants were presented with an overview of the advantages and challenges faced by this small municipality. They were tasked with devising sustainable solutions to address some of these challenges and benefit the local citizens. Subsequently, the participants presented their proposals to the Mayor and the administration of the Municipality, aiming to contribute to the betterment of the community in Pustec.

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In November 2014, a two-day Conference for Young Leaders, titled “Challenges and Opportunities for Balkan Leadership Today,” was held in Ohrid. The Conference was specifically designed for representatives of the first five generations of the School for Young Leaders.ย 

The Opening ceremony featured speeches from notable figures including the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Gjorge Ivanov, the former President of Bulgaria, Georgi Prvanov, and the former President of Albania, Bamir Topi.

Distinguished professors Dragan Stefanoviฤ‡ from the USA and Muhamed Meลกiฤ‡ from Bosnia and Hercegovina delivered insightful lectures, and an engaging debate on the topic “The contribution of ISLAA to the leadership of the next decade” took place.

Panelists at the debate about ISLAA were the Ambassador of France in the Republic of Macedonia, Her Excellency Laurence Ouer, Director of ESRA and former Macedonain Ambassadsor Jordan Plevnesh, professor at Columbia University Gorazd Rosoklija and Director of SASA in Macedonia Maksim Prohorov.

SCHOOL
5

5th School for Young Leaders


The 5th School for Young Leaders had top lecturers who transferred their knowledge, skills and experiences in the direction of encouraging leadership capacities to the young people. Among the lecturers were Boris Tadic, Former President of the Republic of Serbia, Ambassador Karl von Habsburg, Patrick Jephson, Former private secretary (chief of staff) to Princess Diana, New York Times best-selling author James Dunn and Neil Streak of the Pacific Institute โ€“ Europe, Christian Hofreiter of Oxford University, Muhamed Meลกiฤ‡, Lawyer, consultant, activist, academic advisor and researcher at the University of Vienna, Jason Miko, Director at Russell Public Communications, Dragan Stefanovic, Professor of Political Science, University of Tennessee, and many others

Dates
Aug 19-28, 2014
Place
Ohrid
Participants
38
Lecturers
25
Sessions
29

More Insights

The young participants of the 5th School for Young Leaders, during the school, undertook humanitarian activity and visited the geriatric department of the Ohrid General Hospital. During the visit, a total of 33 patients were accommodated in the geriatric ward. The young leaders, with the support of the school’s supporting companies, brought them hygiene products and food and spent the day with the patients. The Director of the department thanked the young leaders expressing his pleasant surprise for the initiative of these young people who did not forget the old, who are in their third age, old, frail and in poor health. He pointed out that young leaders have shown that they are ready to give the desired attention to adults.

SCHOOL
4

4th School for Young Leaders


The 4th School was visited by a total of 30 renowned lecturers from top educational and professional institutions, who conveyed their experiences and views on leadership to a total of 40 training participants. The School’s program included lectures and training in the fields of leadership and management by eminent lecturers and guests from top educational and professional institutions and practical exercises. Among the lecturers were former Czech President Vaclav Klaus, Donald Steele, director of Johnson Associates, a British Aviation Public Relations company, former Chief Spokesman of the BBC, Robert Goodwin III, President of Canada’s New Westminster College, President of the World Academy of sciences and arts Ivo Schlaus, Zivko Mukaetov, Chairman of the Management Board and General Director of Alkaloid AD Skopje, Sietse Baker, Head of the Eurovision Song Contest, Boris Porkovich, Vice-President of the Research Institute of Small European States from Monaco and many others others.

Dates
Aug 19-31, 2013
Place
Ohrid
Participants
40
Lecturers
30
Sessions
35

In March 2013, as a dedicated partner of the School for Leaders, which represents a real temple of knowledge where participants experience an exponential strengthening of their skills and capacities in several fields, ISLAA, in cooperation with the President’s Office, organized an OPEN DAY OF THE SCHOOL FOR YOUNG LEADERS, intended for the non-governmental sector.

The interest in participating in the School for Young Leaders grows significantly from year to year, so the OPEN DAY aimed to bring all interested representatives of the non-governmental sector closer to the program of the School for Leaders, to help them with key aspects in the application process and, most importantly above all, to promote all the benefits that alumni members have gained as participants of the school itself.

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In 2012, the third generation of young leaders of the School for Young Leaders had a unique chance to be present at a special address delivered by His Excellency Ban Ki-Moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations.ย 

The third generation of the School for Young Leaders also had the privilege of attending the official reception held at Villa Biljana, the summer residence of the President of the Republic of Macedonia, in Ohrid.ย 

During his official visit to Macedonia, Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon delivered an inspiring speech to the participants of the third School for Young Leaders and generously took the time to answer questions posed by the attendees.

SCHOOL
3

3rd School for Young Leaders


Addresses to the participants of the third leadership school were given by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State of the USA for Foreign Affairs and former Ambassador of USA to Macedonia, Philip Ricker, the President of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, Felix Unger, the Ambassador of the USA to the Republic of Macedonia, Paul Wallers, Christopher Yvonne, Ambassador of United Kingdom to Macedonia, Dr. Alexander Von Eggen, former Representative President of the Autonomous Region of Trentino – South Tyrol, Kurt Walker, Former Ambassador of the United States of America to NATO, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State of the United States, Vice President of the Center for think of the Presidency and the Parliament, a senior adviser in the Atlantic Council and a member of the Strategic Advisory Group and many others.

Dates
Aug 20-31, 2012
Place
Ohrid
Participants
40
Lecturers
31
Sessions
37

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On November 27, 2011, the first General Assembly of the Ivanov’s School for Leaders Alumni Association (ISLAA) was held in Skopje. ISLAA is a dedicated partner of President Dr. Gjorge Ivanov’s School for Young Leaders, which promotes and motivates leadership in every function and field.ย ISLAA is guided by a vision to promote fundamental leadership values and principles, as well as general principles of solidarity, equality, and mutual respect.ย ISLAA achieves its goals and tasks through specific collaborative projects, forums, debates, roundtable discussions, cooperation with government institutions, organizations, embassies, associations, alumni organizations, universities, and etc.

SCHOOL
2

2nd School for Young Leaders


The lecturers at the second School for Young Leaders were the former MFA of Hungary, Peter Baloลก, Mrs. Darja Bavdaj Kuret, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia in Budapest, Pal Georg von Habsburg Lothringen, Ambassador for European Affairs in the Government of the R. Hungary, Costantino Lauria, Advisor for Economic Affairs of the Council of Ministers for the Implementation of Government Programs, Advisor to the Prime Minister of R. Italy, Agni Vlavianos Arvanitis, Founder and President of the International Organization for Biopolitics Jim Dunn, Project Director, TPI Europe, Blagoja Samakoski, President of Microsam, Lars Reiss, Politician, Christian Democratic Party, R. Norway, Michael O’Sullivan, Director, Cambridge Commonwealth Trust & Cambridge Overseas Trust, Michael Holger, Manager, CIVIC – Institute for International Cooperation and many others.

Dates
Aug 22 - Sep 1, 2011
Place
Ohrid
Participants
39
Lecturers
25
Sessions
29
SCHOOL
1

1st School for Young Leaders


The School for Young Leaders 2010 had a total of 17 lecturers from top educational and professional institutions, who shared their experiences and views on leadership. The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, addressed the opening ceremony and the closing ceremony of the first School for Young Leaders. Lecturers at the school were Philip Ricker, Ambassador of the USA in Macedonia, Mincho Jordanov, Member of the Board of Directors of DUFERKO and President of the Board of Directors of A.D. Makstil Skopje, Jorge Dainer, Founder and CEO of Visionary Partnerships and DHM International Production, Michael Schlaj, Head of Department, Ministry of Labour, Family, Prevention, Social Work and Sport, Saarland Province, Germany, Ralf Bergmann, Spokesperson for the Environment and regional spatial planning Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) – Parliamentary Group in Sachsen Anhalt (Sachsen Anhalt), Philip T. Sussman, President, Institute for Applied Research, Norwich University, Jim Dunn, Project Manager, Pacific Institute, Kata Kadek, Regional Support Manager, Develor, and many others.

Dates
Aug 16-26, 2010
Place
Ohrid
Participants
35
Lecturers
17
Sessions
21

Because you are ready to become a LEADER.

Enroll now in the School for Young Leaders of President Ivanov. Become part of an extraordinary community comprised of aspiring young leaders from diverse backgrounds and with varied interests. Expand your network, foster lifelong friendships, and gain invaluable insights from your fellow participants. Join us today and embark on a transformative journey of growth, learning, and leadership development.

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