In early 2025, when Emine Haxhiu Memishi applied for the post of Junior Associate at North Macedonia’s Ministry of Economy and Labour, she did so armed with a degree in economics from Istanbul Commerce University, an average grade of 9.88, a year of professional training behind her, and a readiness to return to her homeland when so many like her do not. There was another grade, however, that Haxhiu Memishi hadn’t factored in, one that did not feature on her diploma, in her grade average, or the recommendation letters written by her professors – 0.5, the coefficient assigned by North Macedonia to any foreign university that does not feature on the three big international rankings lists. Haxhiu Memishi fell at the very first stage of the recruitment process. “I felt disappointed and treated unfairly,” the 31-year-old told BIRN.