A delegation of the Kosovo Accreditation Agency (KAA) and the Ministry of Education and Science (MASH) conducted an official visit to Brussels, where they met with representatives of the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR), the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA), as well as other European institutions active in the field of quality assurance in higher education.

The purpose of this visit was to strengthen interinstitutional cooperation with key European higher education organizations, exchange experiences in the field of quality assurance, and discuss the latest developments within the European Higher Education Area and the implementation of the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG).

The delegation from Kosova consisted of Professor Hasnije Ilazi, President of the Board of the Kosovo Accreditation Agency; Përparim Kryeziu, Deputy Minister of Education and Science; Naim Gashi, Director General of KAA; Klodeta Krasniqi, Chief of Cabinet to the Minister of Education and Science; Professor Maja Martinovic, international member of the KAA Board; Professor Mirlinda Batalli, member of the KAA Board; Shkurte Bajgora, student member of the KAA Board; Aqim Emurli, Team Leader of the SHER Programme; and Douglas Blackstock, SHER international expert.

During the meetings, the delegation from Kosova presented the progress achieved in reforming the quality assurance system in higher education, with particular emphasis on advancing the institutional and financial independence of KAA, strengthening professional capacities, and ensuring the Agency’s alignment with European standards. It was emphasized that KAA successfully completed the international external review in 2024 and has been registered in EQAR since June 2025, serving as evidence of its compliance with European standards for quality assurance.

As part of the official agenda, the delegation from Kosova held a meeting with Aleksandar Šušnjar, Director of EQAR, where discussions focused on KAA’s registration process in EQAR, developments in quality assurance in Kosova, and the next steps toward the implementation of European recommendations. The delegation assessed that registration in EQAR represents an important achievement for Kosova and an additional incentive for higher education institutions to continue strengthening a culture of quality, transparency, and accountability.

The delegation was also received by ENQA Vice-President Kristin Vinje and ENQA Director Anna Gover, with whom they discussed European quality assurance practices, the experience of KAA’s external evaluation, and the importance of implementing the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area. KAA reiterated its commitment to implementing the recommendations arising from international evaluations, which have already been incorporated into the Agency’s strategic planning for the coming period.

Separate meetings were also held with Patrick Van Den Bosch, Director of VLUHR-QA, and Eva Jaroszewski, Director of AEQES, during which experiences were exchanged regarding Belgian quality assurance models, accreditation practices, institutional evaluation, the digitalization of evaluation processes, and opportunities for cooperation between agencies. These meetings served to identify good practices that may contribute to the further advancement of KAA’s mechanisms.

Furthermore, the delegation met with John Edwards, Secretary General of EURASHE, a European organization representing universities of applied sciences and professionally oriented higher education institutions. The meeting focused on the role of applied higher education, the enhancement of student employability, the alignment of academic programmes with labour market needs, university-industry cooperation, and the development of professional and dual education programmes.

The delegation also held a meeting with Maria Kelo, Director of EUA-IEP, where the discussions focused on institutional development of universities, internationalization, European university alliances, digital transformation, and scientific research. Through this meeting, the parties discussed opportunities for greater inclusion of higher education institutions from Kosova in European networks and initiatives.

In the meeting with Louis Brau, Head of the Secretariat of the European Students’ Union (ESU), discussions focused on the role of students in quality assurance processes and the importance of their involvement in decision-making, in line with European practices. The delegation presented the role of students in Kosova’s higher education system, emphasizing that students are involved in institutional mechanisms and accreditation processes, including representation on the KAA Board and engagement as student experts in evaluations.

The visit was carried out within the framework of the Sustainable Higher Education and Research in Kosovo – SHER Programme, which aims to contribute to the development of a higher education and scientific research sector in Kosova that is evidence-based, needs-oriented, and aligned with the principles of the European Higher Education Area. The Programme is supported by the Austrian Development Agency and co-financed by the Ministry of Education and Science.

This official visit to Brussels represents an important step in strengthening Kosova’s partnership with European higher education and quality assurance institutions. Through dialogue with European partners, KAA and MASH aim to further advance higher education reforms, strengthen the international credibility of the accreditation system, and contribute to the development of a high-quality, transparent, and internationally comparable higher education system aligned with the best European practices.