Paper short abstract:

The paper will present opportunities for cross-border cooperation for reducing poverty and finding solutions by using ICT technology and lifelong learning methods. The research will be focused in the multiethnic border region between Kosovo and Macedonia.

Paper long abstract:

The border region between the Macedonia and Kosovo mainly consist of rural area where agriculture is the main sector that contributes to the economy and engages people actively. The lack of industry branches and the poor economy has resulted to a high level of unemployment, especially among the young people which has been a main concern in the region for a long period of time now. In the other hand, many young people flee from the small towns toward the cities or abroad in order to get a decent job, thus leaving their family businesses to vanish.

The overall objectives of the paper are to identify the problem and find solution for stimulating the existing agriculture businesses in the border region between Macedonia and Kosovo by using ICT technology and lifelong learning methods. The analyses on this paper will give us an overview for the causes and reasons of the abovementioned problems including migration, unemployment and multiethnic relations.

The methodology used in this research paper will consist of data analysis, comparative and empiric analysis as well as field research among the students of two Universities (SEE University in Macedonia and AAB University in Kosovo). The research expectations should show us the challenges which the young population in contemporary society faces and the various methods and solutions in overcoming their difficulties.

Key words: economy, cross-border, unemployment, cooperation, multiethnic.