On February 24, 2025, the State Council of Quality (SCQ) and the leadership of the Kosovo Accreditation Agency (KAA) convened their annual meeting with representatives of public and private higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Republic of Kosovo. This meeting, structured into two separate sessions, aimed to discuss key issues related to accreditation, quality assurance, and KAA’s strategic plans.

The meeting was attended by rectors, deans, and heads of quality assurance offices from various HEIs, who were briefed on the latest developments in accreditation and quality assurance processes. As a recurring event, this annual gathering serves as a platform for KAA to foster an open dialogue with academic institutions, share best practices, address emerging challenges, and identify future steps to enhance the quality of higher education.

The President of the SCQ, Professor Hasnije Ilazi, expressed her gratitude to HEI representatives for their ongoing cooperation with KAA and their continued efforts to improve the quality of higher education. She underscored the importance of a strong partnership between HEIs and KAA to ensure that reforms and enhancements in the accreditation system yield meaningful and sustainable impacts.

Professor Ilazi also announced that KAA has successfully completed the legal and regulatory framework deriving from the Law on the Kosovo Accreditation Agency. Additionally, she informed participants that the development of KAA’s Strategy for the period 2026-2031 has been initiated and invited HEI representatives to actively engage in working groups and contribute to the formulation of this five-year strategy, which is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of higher education in Kosovo.

HEI representatives commended KAA for its collaborative, transparent, and inclusive approach. They expressed their willingness to further cooperate with KAA in refining accreditation and quality assurance procedures. During the discussions, they provided concrete suggestions on how to improve evaluation processes, emphasizing the need for a more flexible methodology tailored to the diverse contexts of academic institutions.

Additionally, discussions focused on the significance of institutional support for faculty development, the advancement of teaching methodologies and research practices, as well as the internationalization of higher education institutions. The participants highlighted the necessity of increased training initiatives and the exchange of best practices to assist institutions in implementing higher standards of academic quality.

The meeting was marked by high-level participation and strong institutional representation. In addition to the SCQ Chair, the meeting was attended by SCQ members, Professor Gëzim Tosuni and Professor Avni Berisha, who shared their insights on improving accreditation and quality assurance processes.

From KAA’s leadership, the meeting included the presence of the Director General, Naim Gashi, and the Director for Evaluation and Accreditation, Arianit Krasniqi, who provided HEI representatives with updates on current processes and planned reforms within KAA.

In concluding the meeting, all parties reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing the quality of higher education and adhering to the highest international standards. KAA will continue to work closely with HEIs to further enhance accreditation and quality assurance mechanisms while actively involving all relevant stakeholders in the formulation and implementation of the 2026-2031 Strategy.

KAA’s annual meeting with higher education institutions remains a key platform for strengthening cooperation, exchanging experiences, and ensuring a robust and high-quality higher education system in Kosovo.