Dusica Dimitrovska Gajdoska

Research Center in Gender Studies

Euro-Balkan Institute

Partizanski odredi 63, 1000 Skopje

ph/fax +389 2 375 570

rcgs@sonet.com.mk

The Research Center in Gender Studies introduces, promotes and pursues the gender/women's/feminist studies research, theoretical investigation and education inasmuch as a legitimate academic field in Macedonia. As a result of its constant effort for consistent focusing on that basic mission, RCGS succeed to influence the formal educational system in Macedonia and to incite establishing postgraduate courses in gender studies within university. This achievement was accomplished through its wide Network of researchers from various areas, existing within the structure of the Center. Furthermore, the Center has identified the need of acting on a less academic level which will communicate closely with activism. The idea of informal, alternative education in the field of gender policy, theory and philosophy was realized through our School for Gender and Politics. Huge interest for this School proved that the mission of the Center, beside its academic aspect, directly concerns a broad target group and is based on the real needs of the women's activist initiative. Regional dimension of the mission was accomplished with the first regional Summer School in gender studies for postgraduates and junior faculty fellows from Central and East Europe. Following the same strategic line of constant regional self- positioning, RCGS is working on creating a regional network for developing curriculum on gender studies in the region. Essential part of the work of the Center is also the promotion and affirmation of women's rights as human rights in Macedonia. Namely, RCGS has its own database concerning the condition of women rights and gender relations in Macedonia, which provides information, very useful in the affirmation and promotion of the work of women groups in Macedonia. The Research Center in Gender Studies offers space also for research and theoretical discourse that introduces and promotes the standpoint and the perspective of theoretical and intellectual, political, social and sexual marginality into the Macedonian theoretical/scientific and public discourse.