On 23 September 2011, the Government of Macedonia Minister of Education and Science Pance Kralev signed a Cooperation Agreement with the President of PEXIM Foundation Mihail Petreski.  The PEXIM Foundation thus far secured full scholarships to five students from Macedonia to study at Cambridge University.

For each year of scholarship, recipients have an obligation to spend two years in Macedonia working in the government institutions.  If the Government does not recognize the quality these students carry or they cannot find suitable placements for them, at that point the student can find a job in any industry but is still under the obligation to stay in Macedonia.

The process of applying for PEXIM scholarship goes directly through Cambridge.

“Any student who wants to apply for this scholarship may do so during the application period for studying in Cambridge.  No separate application is needed for obtaining scholarship by the PEXIM Foundation.  When applying for a place at Cambridge student has the opportunity to apply for funding and scholarships”, said Minister Kralev.

He stressed that this is an excellent example of social responsibility as companies should invest in the future of talented students.  “This is a great example and incentive for companies that have financial capabilities and readiness to organize a similar program to enable our students to be educated abroad and in Macedonia”, added Kralev.

Under the signed Cooperation Agreement, the Ministry of Education and Science has an obligation to encourage interest in this program and encourage students to apply.  “But we also have an obligation to search for adequate employment within the Government for these students once they complete their studies and come back.  This will help us develop our public administration and reach targets set by the Government of Macedonia”, said the minister.

Mihail Petreski, the Founder and President of PEXIM Foundation, introduced two new PEXIM Cambridge scholars from Macedonia: Majda Josevska, who will continue her education in the field of education and has a desire to help reform Macedonia’s educational system, and Leana Ugrinovska, who aspires to deal with the problems faced by the countries in transition.

“I always knew that we have young, bright and ambitious people.  I believe that we can be successful in the world arena, but what I was not sure about was whether we could have the capacity to use their knowledge to go forward.  The syndrome of the developing countries is that such outstanding professionals are not sufficiently exploited when they return home so they stay abroad to work because their capacity is recognized and well accepted there”,said the President of PEXIM Foundation.

In 2011, the PEXIM Foundation will send six students to Cambridge and invest approximately 200,000 Euros in scholarships.