On 9 March 2026, Naim Gashi, Director General of the Kosovo Accreditation Agency (KAA), and Fjollë Ajeti, Senior Official of KAA, took part in the meeting of the Committee on Recognition of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) in the United States of America, held in Washington, D.C., where KAA’s application was reviewed as part of the recognition process for accrediting authorities.

During the public session of the meeting, members of the CHEA Board examined the materials submitted by KAA and asked questions about the application, the functioning of the Agency, quality assurance standards, and developments within the higher education system of the Republic of Kosovo.

Director General Gashi stated that Kosovo has established a broad national consensus on quality assurance in higher education, while the far-reaching reforms undertaken by KAA have contributed to improving the standing of universities and colleges in international rankings.

According to Gashi, the review of KAA’s application by CHEA represents a particularly significant moment for the internationalization of the Agency and for strengthening the international position of Kosovo’s higher education system.

He emphasized that CHEA constitutes a highly important mechanism within the American system for the recognition of accrediting authorities, and that cooperation with this institution would have a direct impact on enhancing KAA’s international credibility.

Gashi further underlined that KAA is already registered in EQAR, the only agency in the Western Balkans to hold such status, and that deepening cooperation with American institutions represents an important step toward the further consolidation of quality assurance standards.

He stressed that a positive decision by CHEA would be of great importance to Kosovo, as it would increase the recognition and credibility of diplomas issued by accredited higher education institutions in Kosovo, while opening new opportunities for academic cooperation, greater mobility of students and academic staff, and the further advancement of the internationalization of Kosovo’s higher education.

Senior Official Fjollë Ajeti explained before the Board the entire internal and external quality assurance process, with particular emphasis on the monitoring process and post-accreditation procedures, which have contributed to strengthening quality mechanisms in higher education institutions.

KAA submitted its application to CHEA on 1 December 2025, and on 23 February 2026 a panel of American experts conducted a visit to Kosovo to assess compliance with U.S. criteria in the field of quality assurance. Following the completion of all procedures, the CHEA Board is expected, within three months, to decide on the admission of KAA as a recognized accrediting institution throughout the United States.