On 22 June 2026, an online meeting was held between representatives of the University of Skopje and Aix-Marseille University, France, focusing on opportunities for cooperation in the fields of territorial attractiveness, sustainable tourism, regional development, and international research initiatives.

The University of Skopje was represented by Prof. Dr. Sashko Gramatnikovski, Dean of the Faculty of Tourism, and Assist. Prof. Dr. Gordana Serafimovic, professor at the Faculty of Human Resource Management.

Representing Aix-Marseille University were Prof. Dr. Christophe Alaux, Director of the Attractiveness & New Territorial Marketing Chair (A&NMT) and Director of the Institute of Public Management and Territorial Governance (IMPGT), Auri-Maria Kostama-Goerger from the International Relations Department of Aix-Marseille University, as well as members of the research team and PhD candidates from the university.

During the meeting, both institutions presented their activities, academic programmes, and research capacities, with particular emphasis on territorial attractiveness, sustainable tourism, destination branding, talent and investment attraction, and the role of higher education in fostering local and regional development.

The participants exchanged experiences and good practices related to the development of competitive and sustainable destinations and presented their ongoing international activities and projects. Special attention was given to opportunities for establishing long-term academic and research cooperation through joint research initiatives, scientific publications, academic mobility, and participation in international programmes and projects, particularly within the Erasmus+ framework.

The participants emphasized the importance of internationalization and the development of strategic partnerships that contribute to innovative solutions in tourism, regional development, territorial marketing, and human capital development.

The meeting marks an important step towards strengthening international cooperation and establishing new partnerships between the University of Skopje and Aix-Marseille University in areas of mutual interest.