On November 21, the 30th anniversary of the founding of MAKO CIGRE, the national committee of CIGRE in Macedonia, was celebrated. On this occasion, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies (FEEIT) hosted Prof. Konstantin Papailiou, President, and Mr. Philippe Adam, Secretary General of the international organization CIGRE.
During their visit, the guests met with the Dean of FEEIT, Prof. Dr. Vladimir Atanasovski, and the Deans of the Technical Faculty in Bitola, Prof. Dr. Mitko Kostov, and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Shtip, Prof. Dr. Vasilija Sharac. The meeting highlighted the long-standing collaboration and mutual support between the academic community and MAKO CIGRE, based on shared values of exchanging knowledge and experiences among professionals and students in the fields of electrical engineering and power systems. FEEIT and the Technical Faculty in Bitola provide significant support to the association through participation in its activities, leadership in study committees, and contributions to regular conferences as authors and co-authors. This support is reciprocal, as noted during the meeting, which was also attended by members of the MAKO CIGRE Secretariat. Prof. Papailiou, President of CIGRE, praised the excellent tradition of MAKO CIGRE in awarding scholarships and recognizing the best students from FEEIT and the Technical Faculty in Bitola in the field of power systems, as well as supporting student conferences hosted by these faculties. The meeting also included a discussion on the importance of the energy transition and the role of engineers in its implementation, with particular emphasis on the need for skilled professionals in this area. As Prof. Papailiou noted, now is the best time to start a career in electrical engineering and participate in the energy transition process.
On November 21, a formal ceremony marking the anniversary was also held, attended by numerous engineers who are members of MAKO CIGRE. The event featured speeches by the President of MAKO CIGRE, Mr. Sasho Saltirovski, CIGRE President Prof. Papailiou, and the Minister of Energy, Mining, and Mineral Resources, Ms. Sanja Bozhinovska.
In his address, Mr. Saltirovski congratulated FEEIT on its 65th anniversary and stated:
“I would like to extend special thanks to the academic community, primarily represented by FEEIT and the Technical Faculty in Bitola. The academic community, especially FEEIT, which celebrates 65 years of existence this year, has continuously provided immense support to the Association through voluntary work in the Study Committees, the Secretariat, and during the organization of conferences. I take this opportunity to congratulate the anniversary of my, your, our, and the future generations’ faculty—FEEIT—and to express my gratitude for everything it does for MAKO CIGRE.”
At the formal ceremony, the Minister, Ms. Bozhinovska, emphasized the importance of engineers for overall societal development, particularly for future generations of engineers:
“Young engineers are the future of this profession, and their energy and innovation give us hope that the transition to sustainable energy is within reach. But they cannot do it alone—they need the support and knowledge that only experienced professionals can provide. CIGRE serves as a bridge between generations of engineers, enabling continuity in the transfer of knowledge and experience—vital for the young people who represent the future of this profession.”
