The Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities, Skopje (ISSHS) is a nonprofit research organization in applied social and humanities studies focusing mainly on multi-issue policy studies. It holds the status of a scientific institution in the fields of social sciences and humanities accorded by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Macedonia (Decision nr. 30). It is also an accredited graduate school offering MA level programs in multi-issue policy studies, cultural studies and gender studies. The Institute holds an Erasmus+ charter of Higher Education Institutions in Europe. Its core activities consist in multi–issue policy studies and policy related advocacy and training, coupled with basic research in the social sciences and humanities. Making findings visible and putting them into function that can contribute to positive changes in society is attached to that of policy research: data driven advocacy and awareness raising are part of every policy research activity we undertake. We also provide consultancy and act as multi-issue policy studies think tank.

The Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje is the first state University in the Republic of Macedonia, founded in 1949, initially with three faculties. At the moment, the University represents a functional community of 23 faculties, 5 research institutes, 4 public scientific institutions – associate members, 1 associate member – other higher education institution and 7 associate members – other organizations. Its activities are stipulated by the Law on Higher Education and the Statute of the University.

The Ss. Cyril and Methodius University develops study programmes in all scientific fields – natural sciences and mathematics, technical and technological sciences, medical sciences and health, biotechnical sciences, social sciences, humanities and arts. Except for the faculties, the research work, also is carried out in the independent research institutes as an integral part of the University.

Nowadays, the illustration of UKIM through figures is as follows: over 60.000 enrolled students from Republic of Macedonia in the first and second cycle of studies, as well as over 700 foreign students. The third cycle – doctoral studies is realized within the School of Doctoral Studies, with a total of 655 students. Over 3.100 teaching, research, associate, as well as administrative staff participate in the realization of the teaching and scientific process at the faculties and institutes.

The University has produced around 150.000 graduated high-professional staff (with obtained Bachelor degree); 10.000 candidates obtained Master’s and Specialist’s degree and around 4.000 candidates obtained the doctoral degree in all teaching and scientific fields.

The overall activities of the University also include sport, artistic, informative, recreational and other activities organized within many associations, clubs etc.

The Ss. Cyril and Methodius University’s mission is to be:

an autonomous, scientific and higher educational university which provides teaching, scholar and applied activities in technical, natural sciences and mathematics, bio-technical, artistic, medical and social sciences;
a university dedicated to the cherishing as well as international recognition of the traditional features and values the Macedonian people (the Macedonian language, history, literature and culture) and at the same time to the nurturing of the cultural values of the other ethnic communities in the Republic of Macedonia;
a university open to all students on the basis of equality and their academic results regardless of their ideological, political, cultural and social origin;
a university that coordinates its academic offer to the needs of the social surrounding, and has continuously dynamic relation towards it;
a university that creates stimulative environment for its employees, providing them a progress of their abilities in order to accomplish its mission;
a university which develops long-life and continuing education;
a university determined to achieve the European norms and standards in all spheres of its activities.