Macut, Hamilton discuss cooperation between Serbian institutions, British Council

BELGRADE - Serbian caretaker PM Djuro Macut met on Thursday in Belgrade with British Council Director Western Balkans Eilidh Hamilton to discuss advancement of cooperation between Serbian institutions and the British Council, which he noted was vital for Serbia’s education system.

"At the meeting, held at the Council’s premises and attended by UK Ambassador to Serbia Edward Ferguson, the Prime Minister highlighted activities carried out as part of this cooperation, which are aimed at improving teaching quality, developing the digital competencies of students and teachers, and ensuring their continuous professional development," a government statement said.

"He stated that the Serbian government attaches great importance to these issues, which are crucial for the ongoing process of improving the quality of the education system in Serbia.

Projects implemented with the support of the British Council demonstrate the importance of continuous development and advancement in this sector, Macut said, expressing confidence that existing successful programmes will be further developed and expanded, while being aligned with the priorities of education system reform in Serbia.

The interlocutors highlighted the importance of the 21st Century Schools project, under which approximately £3 million has been secured for activities in Serbia, with over 35,000 micro:bit devices distributed and more than 7,000 teachers and over 1,000 school principals undergoing training.

The meeting underscored the particular significance of continued cooperation in the fields of digital education and artificial intelligence, which were also discussed during the Prime Minister’s recent visit to London and Cambridge," it said.

"The Prime Minister concluded that the development of these areas is of utmost importance for a society striving for innovation, progress and creativity," it also said.