Higher education and science will play a crucial role for Western Balkan countries in their accession to and association with the European Union (EU). The transition of these countries – many of them new states on their way towards market oriented democracies with strong civil societies – will require a highly qualified workforce and a changed mindset of the population, which needs to develop a new sense of belonging and a spirit of ownership and responsibility.

Education will be key in developing the resources available to contribute to the integration of local higher education systems into the European Higher Education Area. Increasing both the interest of students from the Western Balkans in studying abroad and the EU to support these students to do so is an integral part of the process.

A study initiated by the King Baudouin Foundation, 'Student mobility in Western Balkan countries' highlighted the key problems that exist with Western Balkan student mobility into EU member state and EFTA countries. Of the students interviewed that would not consider study abroad, 51% cited insufficient money as a very important reason. Similarly, even when students were considering studying abroad, 62.4% answered that not finding enough money was a big problem.