The Kosovo Accreditation Agency (KAA) this week evaluating four PhD programs at the University of Prishtina.

The evaluation process involves a team of international accreditation experts, each specializing in the respective fields under review.

The PhD programs under evaluation include the PhD program in Public Health at the Faculty of Medicine, the PhD program in Chemistry at the Faculty of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, and two programs at the Faculty of Philology: the PhD program in Linguistics and the PhD program in Literature.

Doctoral studies constitute a vital segment of the higher education system, linking education, scientific research, and innovation. They form an essential part of a university’s traditional identity, and in most European countries, only universities are authorized to confer a doctoral degree.

Doctoral programs must be developed and maintained by meeting a set of criteria, though it is crucial to recognize that scientific research lies at the core of PhD studies. Due to this focus, the quality assurance processes for these programs differ from those of the first two academic cycles and are focused specifically for PhD programs.

The standards for PhD-level programs applied by the KAA are divided into two categories: essential and supplementary. In total, there are 52 standards: 36 essential and 16 supplementary. All essential standards must be met to achieve a positive accreditation outcome. A doctoral program may be accredited if it demonstrates full or substantial compliance with these standards.