In early March 2025, a delegation from North Macedonia embarked on an exchange visit to Switzerland to explore best practices in circular economy skills development. Organized by the Education for Employment in North Macedonia (E4E) project, the visit provided valuable insights into how Switzerland integrates sustainability and workforce development across key industries.
Key Takeaways from Swiss Expertise
The visit brought together representatives from North Macedonia’s construction, agriculture, and electromechanical sectors, all part of leading business support organizations (BSOs). Their goal was to strengthen the Circular Economy Hub by learning from Switzerland’s well-established circular economy models.
Among the most impactful sessions were:
- Swiss Federation for Adult Learning (SVEB) – Participants gained insights into vocational education and lifelong learning strategies that support sustainability transitions.
- Impact Hub Zurich – Showcased the Circular Economy Incubator, an initiative helping businesses integrate circular principles.
- Swissolar and ETH Zurich’s Circular Building Industry (CBI) – Demonstrated successful examples of circularity in construction, emphasizing material reuse and energy efficiency.
- Punktrufer, Circular Economy Switzerland and Helvetas – Provided networking strategies and policy approaches that can enhance North Macedonia’s circular economy landscape.
- Bern University of Applied Sciences (HAFL) – Shared scientific approaches to circular practices in agriculture, offering solutions relevant to North Macedonia’s agro sector.
- Institute for Sustainable Business – Provided experience in supporting organizations and companies in their way to circular, responsible and impact-oriented economy.
Applying the Knowledge in North Macedonia
The exchange visit reinforced the importance of skills development in advancing a circular economy. The delegation returned with practical strategies to enhance workforce competencies, foster innovation in sustainable industries, and strengthen collaboration between businesses, policymakers, and educational institutions.
By integrating these insights, North Macedonia is better positioned to accelerate its green transition, ensuring that its economy is not only sustainable but also resilient and future-proof.
