Join us: In person at Universum College, Lipjan, Kosovo or online
We have the honor to invite you to the Circular Economy: a way forward Conference organized by the LogEx Community, as the opening event of the Western Balkans Circular Economy Week.
LogEx Community has been established in December 2021. It is a partnership between universities and academics, civil society organizations and business actors from the Western Balkan region, and the region’s diaspora. As a diverse community, LogEx works to address the gap between higher education and the employment marketplace in the WB region. LogEx facilitates shared learning and collaboration and works to build human capital, strengthen a circular economy, reduce unemployment and out-migration.
The conference will take place at Universum College, Main road Prishtine – Ferizaj, km 10, on Monday, 23th of May. This conference aims to bring together an estimated 100 participants (70 participants in the conference and 30 participants in parallel activities such as lectures and workshops) from the six WB countries and the EU. The purpose is to assess the progress made by countries in the region concerning the development/implementation of Circular Economy policies and action plans and to chart a way forward for a sustainable future.
Your presence is of special importance and would honor us! Sincerely Yours,
Alejtin Berisha, Universum College
Astrit Istrefi, The Balkan Forum and LogEx Community
P.S. Please see below the agenda of the conference.
CONFERENCE’S AGENDA
PRISHTINA
23 May 2022 (10:15 – 16:15)
10:15 – 10:30
WELCOME SPEECH AND OPENING OF CONFERENCE AND WESTERN BALKANS CIRCULAR ECONOMY WEEK
PROF. ASOC. DR. SHQIPE GËRGURI RASHITI
Rector of Universum College
PROF. DR. RENATA KONGOLI
Agricultural University of Tirana
MR. ASTRIT ISTREFI
Executive Director, The Balkan Forum
10:30 – 11:00
CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN THE WESTERN BALKANS – RESEARCH FINDINGS & RECS DR. SANDA MIDŽIĆ-KURTAGIĆ
University of Sarajevo / CENER 21
11:00 – 11:20 COFFEE BREAK
11:20 – 12:40
PANEL 1: CIRCULAR ECONOMY POLICIES IN THE WESTERN BALKANS: BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN THEORY & PRACTICE
Western Balkan governments have been working to improve their respective circular economy policies, but often without moving beyond the theoretical concept. At the same time, citizens of the region would strongly benefit from the implemented circular economy approaches, which are also a pivotal tool for delivering part of the 2050 decarbonization agenda in the EU. This panel aims at highlighting the link between theory and practice by outlining potential solutions for transforming circular economy concepts into practical policies in the Western Balkans region.
ASSOC. PROF. DR. MARIA TOADER
University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, Romania
DR. SANDA MIDŽIĆ-KURTAGIĆ
University of Sarajevo / CENER 21
DR. IVANA LOZANOVSKA
North Macedonia
Moderator: MR. URAN RRACI
Universum College
12:40 – 14:00 LUNCH
14:00 – 15:15
PANEL 2: HOW TOMOVE FORWARD: CIRCULAR ECONOMY IMPLEMENTATION IN PRACTICE
Despite the Western Balkans is still lagging behind the EU in implementing circularity concept in practice, there is a number of companies leading by example and using circular economy as part of their work. In this panel, panelists will look into the transition taking place as companies use circular economy concepts to capture more value from resources and to provide citizens with better experiences. Panelists will also discuss different types of circular economy business models, which have a potential to be used in the future as a useful method for implementing circular economy concept in the Western Balkans.
PROF. GIANNIS TSOULFAS
Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
MR. GUXIM KLINAKU
Keep it Green, Kosovo
MS. FIONA JELIĆI
Program Coordinator, Youth Initiative for Human Rights, Serbia
FRANÇESKA KORANÇE
Executive Director of Build Green Group, Albania
Moderator: ASTRIT ISTREFI
Executive Director, The Balkan Forum
15:15 – 15:45 Q&A AND DISCUSSION
15:45 – 16:15 CONCLUSIONS AND CLOSING OF THE CONFERENCE