Fresh from Cambridge, a PEXIM Foundation’s scholar, Ivana Mateska has been, for four months now, working as an assistant in the Cabinet of the Deputy Prime Minister for economic affairs in the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Vladimir Pesevski.

“I have a very responsible and challenging job, as I am directly involved in the creation, development and execution of politics contributing to Macedonia’s development.  I feel privileged to have an opportunity to work on projects, where to a great extend I am able to employ the knowledge gained through my Master studies in Technology Policy in the University of Cambridge”, says Ivana.

Her job tasks are quite diverse in scope.  She is responsible for coordination of several projects whose main purpose is to strengthen the links within the triple helix model, through development of systematic approaches that enhance cooperation between the business sector, the universities and research centres, and the government.  At the same time, she is working in a team that creates a National Strategy for Innovation, as well as a team that constructs the National Industrial Policy program.  Throughout all those activities, Ivana focuses on improving the competitiveness of the county in a global context.

As a PEXIM Foundation Alumni, Ivana is a true example of the Foundation’s mission to be a vehicle to support talented students from Macedonia and Serbia to obtain degrees from the University of Cambridge in order to perpetuate the advancement of EU integration and competitiveness of their countries.  The Foundation strives to develop leaders who are prepared to dedicate their knowledge, experience and skills to improve their country’s capacity for political, social and economic development in order to compete effectively in the global market.