A great jubilee for Macedonian studies and for the Macedonian state is being marked half a century since the opening of the Macedonian Language Lectureship in Paris, France, the International Seminar for Macedonian Language, Literature and Culture at the University "St. Cyril and Methodius" in Skopje (MSMJLK at UKIM).

With the Lectureship in Paris 50 years ago, the further strengthened presence of the Macedonian language, literature and culture in the teaching of foreign higher education institutions began. The lectureship of the prestigious National Institute for Oriental Languages ​​and Civilizations (INALCO) in Paris is the first lectureship in Macedonian language opened outside the former Yugoslav state. During its 50-year continuous operation and development, this Lectureship is not only a center of Macedonian studies in France and a central point of Macedonian-French academic and cultural ties, but also a key center for the affirmation of the Macedonian language, literature and culture in general. in a part of Europe.

The international seminar on Macedonian language, literature and culture at the University "St. Cyril and Methodius" in Skopje together with INALKO celebrates the significant anniversary, with commitments for the further perspectives for the development of Macedonian studies of this renowned European higher education center.

- Today, 50 years after the opening of the Lectureship in Paris, we are faced with a historical obligation and responsibility to value what is the history and present of Macedonian studies in France and to make a contribution to its future. In the past decades, much has been achieved. Today, the Macedonian language is taught at INALKO as a main subject, in all cycles of academic studies - from license to doctorate. INALKO also has the first professorial chair for Macedonian studies at a foreign higher education institution. Since last year, Macedonian studies has the status of a rare scientific discipline in France and is protected. But it should not and must not stop here! After what has been achieved in the past 50 years, we are obliged to commit to what will be a reality in the years to come, and this is imperative for us in celebrating this significant anniversary - points out the director of MSMJLK at UKIM, prof. Dr. Vesna Moysova-Chepishevska.

She mentions that the Lectureship opened half a century ago and INALCO as a higher education center not only have historical significance for us, but are also one of the real examples of how Macedonian studies should be worked and developed at foreign university centers where the Macedonian language is taught. literature and culture. As he points out, the great anniversary, through which once again the importance of the space that INALCO has provided for the development of Macedonian studies in France, should also be a mutual incentive for further development of cooperation and cooperation in new achievements for the study of the Macedonian language, literature and culture of INALCO. The message that we have to create the future in the present is one of those with which MSMJLK at UKIM started celebrating the anniversary.

- At a time when, in the global framework, the interest in studying philology and humanities in general is lower than before, this academic year, in the first cycle of studies at INALKO, there is an increased interest in Macedonian studies. Staff who express a desire and willingness to invest themselves in the further development of Macedonian studies are the future! We need to jointly invest in them, so that in the years and decades ahead, new ones can be added to the previous achievements - emphasizes the director of MSMJLK at UKIM.

Mojsova-Chepishevska points out that what has been achieved in the past five decades would not have been possible if, in addition to the institutional commitments of MSMJLK at UKIM and INALCO, there was not the contribution of all the devotees of Macedonian studies who invested a part of themselves in the development of studies in Macedonian studies in Paris. All previous lecturers, from the first, prof. Alexa Poposki, Ph.D., to the current one, Gjoko Zdraveski, M.Sc., but crucially - the staff of INALCO, where for the past two decades, the dedication of Prof. Ph.D. Frosa Pejoska-Bushro, who directs studies in Macedonian language, literature and culture.

- We hope that even in this jubilee year, 2023, the Macedonian word will resonate strongly in Paris. Precisely from INALCO, with scientific insights, research results, joint initiatives and new projects in the period to come. But also with the interest of the new devotees of Macedonian studies in France. Together we will send the message that after what has been achieved in the past fifty years, with a clear goal and vision, investments in Macedonian studies should continue in the years to come. With determination for new achievements in the affirmation of the Macedonian language, literature and culture, says the director of MSMJLK at UKIM.

The celebration of the great jubilee of 50 years of the Macedonian language lectureship in Paris has already begun. Among other things, at INALCO, the anniversary will be marked with an international gathering.

Otherwise, the initiative for studies in Macedonian studies at INALKO in Paris dates back to the sixties of the last century, and was realized with the opening of the Lectureship in 1973, as a result of the agreement on inter-institutional cooperation between UKIM and INALKO. Since then, with joint investments of MSMJLK with UKIM and INALCO, studies in Macedonian Studies in Paris have been continuously developing. In 1981, at INALKO, diplomas covering a full course in Macedonian Studies were already introduced, and the professorial Department of Macedonian Studies was opened a few years ago.

Students of INALKO are regular participants of the MSMJLK schools at UKIM, where additional efforts are made to improve their knowledge in the field of Macedonian studies.

Last year, Macedonian Studies was officially recognized as a rare scientific discipline by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research. Following the decision of a scientific committee, the initiative to include Macedonian studies in the French-German project for mapping rare disciplines in France and Germany was accepted. The label "rare discipline" guarantees: recognition, protection, possible expansion of studies and preservation of Macedonian studies at INALKO, with the impossibility of combining it with other studies.

The anniversary of 50 years of the Lectureship in Macedonian language at INALKO obliges us to continue along the path that our predecessors paved half a century ago.