Studying Abroad Through Western Balkan Voices

Group neighbors - screening at NextGen Media Expo II in Prizren © Group Neighbors

Learning Beyond Home: Student Perspectives from the Western Balkans

By Group Neighbors

Neighbors is a group/project team made up of Teona Jordanoska, Emina Smajlović, and Nataša Novosel. Our aim was to explore and showcase the experiences of international students from the Western Balkans who are studying abroad.

The project is presented through a series of three short videos recorded in the participants’ native languages and subtitled in English. One video features a student from North Macedonia, while the other two highlight students from Bosnia and Herzegovina—one from the University of Sarajevo and one from the University of East Sarajevo. Through these personal narratives, we offer an authentic and relatable insight into the realities of studying abroad from a Western Balkan perspective.

Each video addresses key themes such as adapting to a new environment, cultural exchange, overcoming personal and academic challenges, and the long-term value of international education.

Note: This content was produced with the support of a seed funding grant, following the group members’ participation in the NextGen Media Lab (capacity building event for young media professionals), where the project ideas and topics were developed through a design sprint.

Funded by the European Union, the Innovation. Media. Minds.: Support to the Public Service Journalism in the Western Balkans Program, is managed by the Goethe-Institut on behalf of the European Commission and in collaboration with its implementing partner DW Akademie.