During the regional meeting of the six Western Balkan countries, organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and held on 24–25 April 2025 in Zagreb, Croatia, the Director General of the Kosovo Accreditation Agency (KAA), Naim Gashi, presented Kosovo’s experience with the evaluation process conducted by the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA), highlighting its significant impact on the institutional development of the Agency.

This regional event brought together representatives from quality assurance agencies across the six Western Balkan countries, who engaged in discussions on preparing for ENQA evaluations, strengthening regional cooperation, and sharing successful practices. The meeting was hosted by the Croatian Agency for Science and Higher Education (ASHE).

In his presentation, titled “The Role of ENQA Assessments in the Development of the Kosovo Accreditation Agency”, Gashi emphasized that the review process served not only as a profound reflection on KAA’s operations but also as a catalyst for enhanced transparency, institutional independence, and alignment with the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG).

He presented concrete achievements of the Agency, including the increase in staff from 8 to 26, the restructuring of the Agency, improvements in digital infrastructure, and the reform of the Accreditation Manual. Furthermore, he stressed that the new Law on the Kosovo Accreditation Agency, adopted in 2023, played a pivotal role in securing KAA’s functional independence and boosting stakeholder trust.

A key part of the presentation addressed the challenges encountered during the process—such as the complexity of ESG compliance, interpreting the standards within the local context, and managing external factors that influence institutional performance. “The ENQA review was not merely a test; it was an opportunity to learn, improve, and advance the quality of higher education in Kosovo,” Gashi stated.

On the sidelines of the regional meeting, Director Gashi held a bilateral meeting with his Croatian counterpart, Professor Danijela Horvatek Tomić, Director of ASHE, during which they discussed continued cooperation aimed at enhancing the quality of higher education.

KAA’s participation in this regional forum was recognized by attendees as a valuable contribution and a strong example of how an accreditation agency can meet European quality standards and play a meaningful role in advancing regional development.