Macedonian society is multiethnic society trying to design its education system in accordance with
contemporary international tendencies. These attempts are in constant collision with the external
and internal challenges determining the system of education and shaping its future development
directions. In this article we claim that education today should serve to support two main directions:
one founded on global values and serving developmental characteristic for the contemporary world
(cooperation, compatibility, competitiveness, integration, etc.), and one rooted in the national
culture and values, serving the resolving of domestic challenges and developmental directions. This
paper will address the challenges and the role of high education institutions in Macedonian society
in fostering intercultural dialogue and understanding. It will analyze the process of educational
reforms after the conflict in 2001 and the impact of high education reforms and draw conclusions
about future actions.