About Us
The Institute
The Max van der Stoel Institute (MVDSI), established in March of 2012 and based at South East European University, is an interdisciplinary scientific institute with a focus on social sciences and information & communication technologies.
The Institute’s namesake, Max van der Stoel, was the former Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE) High Commissioner on National Minorities. Van der Stoel played an active and significant role in regional conflict prevention, and was one of the key figures in SEEU’s design and establishment. The bulk of MVDSI’s work is in both conducting research, and designing and implementing research projects throughout the region. This work is carried out through the three research groups which comprise the Ins–titute: the Distributed Systems and Data Science Group (DSG), the Social Sciences Group (SSG), and the Environment and Health Group (EHG).
MVDSI is a part of South East European University (SEEU), a private-public, not-for-profit institution of higher education. Specializing in socioeconomic and technological sciences, SEEU’s array of faculties, centres, and institutes all work today toward a better tomorrow – making it the first university in North Macedonia to obtain the EU Commission’s “HR Excellence in Research (HRS4R)” badge.
The team
Staff
Veli Kreci
Full Professor, Head of MVDSI
email: v.kreci@seeu.edu.mk
- Pdoc, MIIS California
- PhD, SEEU
- Ma, University of Pittsburgh
- Ba, Istanbul University
Mennan Selimi
Full Professor, Head of DSG
email: m.selimi@seeu.edu.mk
- Pdoc, University of Cambridge
- PhD, UPC BarcelonaTech
- MS, Sapienza University of Rome
- BA, SEEU
Albulena Halili
Research Associate (SSG)
email:a.halili@seeu.edu.mk
- PhD, University of Tirana
- Ms, SEEU
- BA, SEEU
Edlira Palloshi-Disha
Researcher (SSG)
email:e.palloshi@seeu.edu.mk
Fortesa Asani
Researcher (SSG),
email: fortesa.asani@seeu.edu.mk
- MS, London School of Economics and Political Science
- Ba, SEEU
Albinota Nuredini
Researcher (EHG),
email: a.nuredini@seeu.edu.mk
- Ma, University of Birmingham
- Ba, SEEU
Project Coordination and Implementation Unit

Afrim Tresi
Head of Project Coordination & Implementation Unit
email: a.tresi@seeu.edu.mk

Irena Gjerasimovska
Project Finance Officer
email: i.gjerasimovska@seeu.edu.mk
- PHD Candidate, SEEU
- Ms, SEEU
- Ba, State University of Tetovo

PhD, Master and Bachelor students

Fjollë N. Caka
PhD Candidate (EHG )
email: fc29090@seeu.edu.mk
- PhD Candidate, SEEU
- Ms, George Washington University
- Ba, University of Prishtina

Lamir L. Shkurti
Phd candidate (DSG)
email: ls29773@seeu.edu.mk
- Phd Candidate, SEEU
- Ms, University of Prizren
- Ba, University of Prishtina

Nelum Andalib
PhD Candidate (DSG)
email: n.andalib@seeu.edu.mk
- PhD Candidate, SEEU
- Ms, Quaid- E- Azam University, Pakistan
- Ba, COMSATS, Pakistan






Menan Sali
Intern (DSG)
email: ms30726@seeu.edu.mk- BA (Ongoing), SEEU

Samir Shabani
Intern (DSG)
email: ss31514@seeu.edu.mk- BA (Ongoing), SEEU
Visitors



Dan O Nyamangah
Visiting Fulbright U.S. Scholar (2023-2024)
Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego
email:
daniel.nyamangah@fulbrightmail.org

Dr. Phil MURPHY
Visiting Fulbright U.S. Scholar
Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey
email: pjmurphy@middlebury.edu

Dr. Sarah N. Keller
Visiting Fulbright U.S. Scholar
Montana State University Billings
email: skeller@msubillings.edu
Collaborators

Besa Arifi
Full Professor, Law
email: b.arifi@seeu.edu.mk

Adrian Besimi
Associate Professor, CST
email: a.besimi@seeu.edu.mk
- PhD, SEEU
- Ma, Indiana University
- Ba, SEEU

Memet Memeti
Associate Professor, Social Sciences
email: m.memeti@seeu.edu.mk

Hajrulla Hajrullai
High Lector, Language Center
email: h.hajrullai@seeu.edu.mk
- PhD, SEEU
- Ma, Indiana University
- Ba, SEEU

Gadaf Rexhepi
Associate Professor, BE
email: g.rexhepi@seeu.edu.mk

Veland Ramadani
Full Professor, BE
email: v.ramadani@seeu.edu.mk
Alumni

Edita Bytyqi
PhD Candidate at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Role: Summer intern at MVDSI (2018/19)
email: eb3137@columbia.edu