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A team from the Kosovo Accreditation Agency (KAA), comprising Shpresa Shala and Fjollë Ajeti, participated in two significant international events organized by the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) on December 11 and 12, 2024, in Brussels, Belgium. Ahead of these events, the KAA team engaged in discussions with ENQA President Douglas Blackstock, ENQA Director Anna Gover, and senior representatives of peer agencies across Europe. These discussions focused on fostering collaboration to enhance the quality of higher education. The two-day events in Brussels featured: Seminar on the European Dimension of Quality Assurance, which addressed: The European Framework for [...]

In its session held on December 5, 2024, the Assembly of Kosovo, by majority vote, appointed Ms. Shkurtë Bajgora as a member of the State Council of Quality (SCQ) of the Kosovo Accreditation Agency (KAA). This decision by the Assembly aligns with the Law on the KAA, which stipulates that one voting member of the Council must be a representative from the student body. The President of the SCQ, Professor Hasnije Ilazi, and the General Director of the KAA, Naim Gashi, have welcomed the Assembly's decision, emphasizing its significance in completing the KAA Board (SCQ). With this decision, the final criterion [...]

In its meeting held on December 11, 2024, the State Council of Quality (SQC) of the Kosovo Accreditation Agency (KAA) approved the report of international experts granting institutional accreditation to the University of Prishtina for a five-year period. Today's meeting was extraordinary for the absence of three SCQ members affiliated with the University of Prishtina. The expert team conducting the institutional evaluation of the University of Prishtina comprised Prof. Dr. Melita Kovacevic (Croatia), Prof. Dr. Magdalena Platis (Romania), Prof. Dr. Mauro Zarrelli (Italy), and Ms. Marija Vasilevska, a student expert. Additionally, the SQC approved two other institutional accreditation reports the previous [...]

The State Council of Quality (SCQ)of the Kosovo Accreditation Agency (KAA), in its 132nd meeting held on December 9 and 10, 2024, continued the process of reviewing applications for the accreditation of study programs and made decisions. The approval of applications is a prerequisite that paves the way for the evaluation of study programs by international accreditation experts. Additionally, the Council reviewed and made decisions on two reports submitted by international experts for institutional accreditation. During this meeting, the SCQ also addressed appeals and requests submitted by higher education institutions in the Republic of Kosovo. Furthermore, the Council approved the modalities [...]

On December 3, 2024, the Director-General of the Kosovo Accreditation Agency (KAA), Naim Gashi, hosted a meeting with Ms. Marina Grubišić, Head of the Evaluation Division, and Ms. Mia Đikić, Head of the Research Division at the Croatian Agency for Science and Higher Education (AZVO). The discussion focused on the benefits KAA will gain from the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) project aimed at improving the quality of higher education in the Western Balkans. Director Gashi highlighted KAA's achievements in completing legislation, regulations, and criteria that enable the full implementation of European quality standards. He emphasized that KAA has tripled its staff, [...]

The State Council of Quality (SCQ) of the Kosovo Accreditation Agency (KAA), in its meeting held on November 27, 2024, established criteria for study program holders in the field of arts. The new criteria are grounded in the Law on KAA, European standards and guidelines, and the Standards and Accreditation Manual of KAA. Before making this decision, KAA engaged in discussions with representatives of higher education institutions and adopted best practices from several European countries, including Finland, Croatia, Slovenia, and others. The SCQ decided that, upon submitting applications for accreditation or reaccreditation of study programs in the field of arts, higher [...]

On November 18, 2024, the Kosovo Accreditation Agency (KAA) initiated the institutional accreditation process at the University of Prishtina. This is the first accreditation to be carried out under the new accreditation standards based on the approved Law on the Kosovo Accreditation Agency. The team of experts assessing the University of Prishtina is led by Professor Melita Kovacevic from the University of Zagreb. The team also includes Deputy Rector Magdalena Platis from the University of Bucharest, Professor Mauro Zarreli from the National Research Council in Naples, Italy, and student expert Marija Vasilevska. This week, two teams of international accreditation experts will [...]

On 15.11.2024, the Kosovo Accreditation Agency (KAA) hosted a comprehensive training session for experts who will participate in the institutional and program accreditation processes. The training focused on recent changes to accreditation standards and regulations, aimed at ensuring a clear understanding of the evolving criteria and compliance expectations. Participants also received detailed guidance on drafting evaluation reports and accurately calculating standard compliance. This initiative underscores KAA's commitment to maintaining high standards and continuous quality improvement in the sector of higher education in the Republic of Kosovo.    

On November 12, 2024, the Assembly Committee on Education, Science, Technology, Innovation, Culture, Youth, and Sports visited the Kosovo Accreditation Agency (KAA). They were received by the President of the State Quality Council (SQC), Professor Hasnije Ilazi; the Director General of KAA, Naim Gashi; SQC member Mirlinda Batalli; and other Agency staff. The delegation from the Assembly included the Chair of the Committee, Ardian Gola; Vice-Chair Albena Reshitaj; and members of parliament Arjeta Fejza, Eliza Hoxha, and Arjeta Rexhepi. Professor Ilazi expressed her gratitude to the members of the Committee and the Assembly for approving the KAA Law, which has paved [...]

On November 1, 2024, national and international members of the Kosovo State Quality Council (SCQ) of the Kosovo Accreditation Agency (AKA) conducted an official visit to “Haxhi Zeka” University in Peja. During this visit, they met with the Rector, Professor Armand Krasniqi, as well as the institution’s deans and vice-deans. The meeting focused on the implementation of revised quality standards and other relevant issues concerning accreditation and collaboration between Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and the SCQ. While in Peja, the SCQ also held its 130th meeting, during which it reviewed and decided upon the reports of international experts evaluating doctoral programs, [...]