Marjan Icoski

The Brainster Group is the leading EdTech organization in North Macedonia founded in 2015, established to provide a high-quality education to future-proof careers in technology and other essential 21st-century competencies. Brainster Group team comprises +70 full-time employees and more than 150 part-time lecturers, mentors, and industry instructors, all driven by intellectual curiosity and a commitment to delivering exceptional educational experiences. The Brainster Group comprises four entities: Brainster, AIatWork, Brainster Next College and NU High School Academy. Brainster is focused on bridging the gap between traditional education and the digital job market. Through academies, bootcamps, executive education, and real-life projects, Brainster has empowered over 16,000 individuals to thrive in high-growth, well-paying careers. Recognized for its industry-responsive curriculum, strong employer partnerships, and comprehensive career support, Brainster offers intensive courses in programming, data science, UX/UI design, and digital marketing. It employs a practical, project-based model, collaborating with over 200 companies to provide students with real-world experience and job opportunities, significantly advancing the regional tech ecosystem. Brainster Group has emerged as a regional leader in AI education. AIatWork is a leading regional AI upskilling solution, offering personalized learning, masterclasses, and AI Academies from experts at Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Nasdaq, Tesla, Booking, and regional leaders. In its first iteration, AIatWork acquired thousands of users and hundreds of corporate partnerships. Members access practical, live AI courses focusing on applying AI tools for task automation, cost reduction, and productivity boosts, alongside an immersive, project-based certification Academy. This is supplemented by a private community with peer support, expert sessions, playbooks, exclusive events, and a monthly AI Digest. Brainster also launched AIatSchool, a nationwide program with North Macedonia's Ministry of Education, training teachers and students on responsible and effective AI use to improve learning and future job readiness, aiming for long-term policy change and integrating AI literacy into the education system.