Skopje, Republic of Macedonia

Advanced LL.M. in European and International Business Law, cum laude  (2016 - 2017)

Why I chose Leiden University

I wished to do my LL.M. studies at an elite institution—a law school with a stellar reputation and proven track record of dedication to academic excellence. Why? Because I knew that such a law school attracts many of the best legal scholars and students under one roof. In other words, my principal intention was to go to an institution where I would be surrounded by excellence in every sense of the word.

However, other factors also played a significant role in my decision-making process: I wanted that elite law school to be located in a liberal and highly developed country with a proven history of academic freedom; I wanted there to be globally significant institutions where I would be able to work after my studies; I wanted to live in a town vibrant with student life that has its own soul and history, monuments and culture; and finally, I wanted to be somewhere in Europe so I could be close to my home country.

After I had written down the aforementioned criteria and after I had checked all the matching law schools, it was easy to make the decision to apply to Leiden Law School (LLS)―there was not a shred of doubt in my mind that LLS was the place where I wanted to do my LL.M. studies. Consequently, I ended up applying only to LLS and not a single other law school.
 

My Leiden Experience

Academically, being a LLS student was a great privilege and a truly transformative experience. I had the chance to learn from renowned legal scholars in a classroom composed of brilliant students coming from all over the world. During my time at Leiden, the balance of competitive and collaborative academic environment pushed me to grow both academically and personally.

The study trips to the European Commission, the Court of Justice of the EU, the European Parliament, the Heineken Headquarters’ Legal Department, Allen & Overy’s Amsterdam office, the Peace Palace in the Hague, etc., as well as lectures from renowned experts such as Ms. Margrethe Vestager, the European Commissioner for Competition, Ms. Ulrike Lunacek, Vice President of the European Parliament until 2017, professor Martin Hunter, a legendary name in the field of international arbitration, and many others, made me feel incredibly privileged.

I would also like to single out my thesis supervisor, Pavlos E. Masouros, Assistant Professor of Corporate Law, for being an amazing mentor and for always being supportive in my academic endeavors. I will never forget his words: “you will never accomplish anything in life if you are not focused.”Ever since, the idea behind these words has been one of my guiding principles in life.

Beyond the classroom, I had the chance to meet people from every part of the world and get exposed to myriad of different cultures and worldviews. This experience has had a profound influence on me as a person. I also took great pleasure in visiting many of the over 2700 historical monuments in Leiden. The city itself is more like a museum in which people live. Last but not least, Leiden’s nightlife was also awesome. I sincerely wish I had an extra year at Leiden so I could spend more time exploring the Netherlands and hang out with the friends I made there.

My current job

Currently, I work in the Cabinet of the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of economic affairs (CDPMEA) in the Government of the Republic of Macedonia (GRM) and am incredibly happy with my work at the CDPMEA thus far.

I feel very honored and proud for being given the chance to serve my country and I sincerely hope that my work will be a valuable contribution towards its better future. Not to mention that I have been able to grow tremendously, both on a personal and professional level.

 

Why I decided to become a Leiden University International Ambassador

I decided to become a Leiden University Ambassador in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, because I: (1) feel incredibly honored for being given the privilege to be part of the Leiden University (LU) ‘family’, (2) want to give back to this family in various ways and explain what a privilege it is to study at LU to anyone interested, (3) want to serve as a ‘bridge’ between LU and talented Macedonian students who aspire to study at LU, helping both sides make better decisions in the process, and (4) hope to increase the level of co-operation between the Republic of Macedonia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, especially through my work in the GRM and especially in the field of education.