MEMORANDUM OF COOPERATION BETWEEN THE NATIONAL CONSERVATION CENTRE AND THE FACULTY OF TOURISM AND BUSINESS LOGISTICS
On September 21, 2026, in Shtip, the Director of the National Conservation Centre – Skopje, MA. Aleksandar Jordanoski, and the Dean of the Faculty of Tourism and Business Logistics at “Goce Delchev” University – Shtip, Prof. Dr. Natasha Miteva, signed a Memorandum establishing mutual cooperation aimed at supporting development projects for the advancement of student education, the local community, economic growth, and the development of tourism in the Republic of North Macedonia.
The signing ceremony was attended by Prof. Dr. Dushica Saneva Popova and Prof. Dr. Zoran Temelkov from the Faculty of Tourism and Business Logistics, as well as Dr. Jehona Spahiu Janchevska, art historian – conservation adviser and Head of the Sector for Research and Conservation Planing of Immovable Cultural Heritage, and MA. Vlado Mukovski, painter – conservation adviser and Head of the Conservation and Restoration Sector at the National Conservation Centre.
With the inclusion of tourism as an added value within the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the National Conservation Centre is undertaking concrete measures for the functional preparation of sites and buildings that have the status of cultural heritage for tourism use. The role of heritage protection institutions is to restore the authentic condition of a particular site or building, while the role of tourism is to make information about the value of that heritage accessible to as many interested parties as possible.
Conservation and restoration works preserve the material memory of our past, our culture, and our identity. However, when they remain unseen by the public, they become a silent voice of their own existence. The students of this faculty will become the future voice of the painstaking work of Macedonian conservators. It is precisely through connecting professional work with education and tourism that an opportunity is created for cultural heritage to be better presented, understood, and made accessible to the public.
Tourism is a sector that, in some countries around the world, has long been a leading force in society, while North Macedonia, as part of the Mediterranean cultural complex, possesses significant potential to incorporate tourism as an economic driver. In this regard, the cooperation creates opportunities for developing activities that will contribute to greater visibility and promotion of cultural heritage and to its appropriate presentation as an important resource for cultural tourism and local and regional development.
Among the key points included in the Memorandum are the presentation and transfer of knowledge by experts; the preparation of analyses aimed at making a greater contribution to social development and the advancement of tourism, culture, education, and the social sector; assistance with advocacy and engagement in establishing connections with relevant partners who can contribute to local and regional development; student internships; and joint research projects.
The cooperation between the National Conservation Centre and the Faculty of Tourism and Business Logistics represents an opportunity for the exchange of knowledge and experience and for establishing a stronger link between the professional and educational spheres, with the aim of ensuring the long-term and sustainable protection, promotion, and presentation of cultural heritage.
Prepared by: Ma. Aleksandar Jordanoski and Dr. Jehona Spahiu Yanchevska
Faculty of Tourism and Business Logistics – UGD
