UKZ, since its establishment in 2013 has been part of international projects. To date, UKZ has been and is part of 25 local and international projects. Currently, UKZ is active in 9 Erasmus
+ capacity building projects (Erasmus + CBHE), were in one of them as a leader/coordinator.
| No | Project | Coordinator |
| 1 | QUADIC Project – Coordinator | “Kadri Zeka” University |
| 2 | QATEK Project | University of Prishtina |
| 3 | ResearchCult Project | IBCM |
| 4 | ENEMLOS Project | University of Podgorica |
| 5 | SMAHPC Project | Heimerer College |
| 6 | eVIVA Project | UET |
| 7 | REBUS Project | University of Sarajevo |
| 8 | EUFORIA Project | Staffordshire University |
| 9 | GreenTech Project | Vigos University |
| 10 | SIAHDPC Project | Heimerer College |
| 11 | The STEAMedu project | University of Mostar |
| 12 | Project STAND | IBCM |
| 13 | Fulbright Programme | American Embassy |
| 14 | LECU Project | Swiss Government |
| 15 | Project HOPE | Swiss Caritas |
| 16 | Project KODE | World Bank |
| 17 | Project OPTIMA | US Grants |
| 18 | Projects with GIZ (3 projects) | GIZ |
| 19 | Project “UP TO YOUTH | USAID |
| 20 | Student projects in the field of digitalization | UKZ |
| 21 | Projects with HERAS (3 projects) | WUS Austria |
| 22 | Projects with HERAS + | WUS Austria |
| 23 | ICM Erasmus + | MCBU 2019 |
| 24 | ICM Erasmus + | MCBU 2020 |
| 25 | ICM Erasmus + | Nova Lisboa 2020 |
| 26 | Project with US Alumni | US Alumni
Association/American Embassy |
Erasmus+ CBHE Projects
UKZ is the Coordinator of a project in Erasmus +, with 18 local and international partners, with a budget of 991,831.00 €. The project is about capacity building for internationalization and project writing and management and will last until 2023. The QUADIC project is about internationalization and capacity building in project writing and management and includes a total of 10 working packages. This project plans to create offices for international cooperation and projects in those universities that have not yet established and to strengthen the existing offices of partner universities that already have these offices established. Also, the main document has been developed, namely the Strategy for Internationalization, which will set priorities and the way of functioning of universities towards internationalization and globalization. The project also covers the process of creating a digital platform for the management of international agreements and projects by consortium partners and which could be expanded in the future with the involvement of universities and other organizations wishing to join. The overall goal of this project is to improve the quality of HEIs in Kosovo and Albania; institutional capacity building for international relations; establishing or making the relevant offices fully functional (including project cycle management capacity) in consortium members.
QATEK project, which aims to introduce QA mechanisms in HEI in Kosovo to implement IQApractices that lead to improving the quality of graduates who are able to advance reform of the school. The specific goals of this project are Development of IQAmechanisms and processes within HEI in Kosovo, which respond to specific quality indicators; Capacity building for the management of IQAmechanisms in teacher education across Education faculties, including the adoption of FE staffing policy and course design policy; Capacity building of academic staff in providing quality teaching as one of the indicators in the internal quality mechanism; Implementation of a complete QA process for all relevant areas of teacher education (course implementation, program relevance, research program, international cooperation, student services, administrative and management practices, etc.).
The overall goal of the ResearchCult project is to support the growth of research culture in HEI in Kosovo, by supporting the development of good policies and practices, as well as the creation and installation of new regulations, structures and mechanisms in beneficiary institutions of the project in Kosovo. The project is aimed at specific objectives: Assessment of the current state of research capacities in the higher education sector in Kosovo; Increase research stimulation and support by establishing university offices/centres and their StPs to support ongoing research activities between their institutions; Improvement of the university strategy for publishing scientific research work through the development and approval of internationally recognized standards for scientific journals, as well as the creation of inter- institutional scientific journals in the main research priorities in Kosovo; Promotion of research work through the joint annual scientific conference; Improvement of the research quality and standards by developing regulations on research ethics and integrity, as well as the
establishment of research ethic committees in HEI; Facilitation of regular access to research publication and establishment of an open-access platform/database for the accumulation of research knowledge; Increasing opportunities for research publication through capacity building among young researchers in research articles according to the criteria and requirements for publishing research work.
The project aims at the professional development of the students of the FL at UKZ and other universities in Kosovo. This project will be of great importance in Kosovo because there is a lack of internship in the studies of the FL. Students graduate from their law school and still may not have an internship until the end of their faculty. For this reason, we have included in our curricula the subjects of legal clinic, but the main problem is that even the professors do not know how to practice the subject. Until recently, legal clinics were being taught as a theoretical teaching course but nothing in practice. Since 2016, we have started sending our students to courts, prosecutor offices, notaries, lawyers, enforcement agents, etc. The project will mainly target students, in order to increase their level of internship, which will then assist them in the employment process by developing professional activity during their studies in the legal clinic. The law clinic enables the development of direct relationships with different citizens, businesses or clients, which makes students experience the most interesting moments they expect after graduation. This affects the advancement and further development of their practical legal skills. UKZ in addition to establishing legal clinics within the FL will also receive equipment and books from the latest titles in the field of justice in a total value of € 45,000.00.
The SMAHPC project is a project in partnership with six Kosovar partners and three European partners, which aims to establish Multidisciplinary Centres for students providing services, which are being implemented successfully. The coordinator of this project is Heimerer College. UKZ has made an outstanding contribution to the implementation of all duties and responsibilities as a partner. UKZ has organized a Kick-Off meeting (first meeting of partners) in Gjilan, which was attended by more than 50 participants from across the consortium. UKZ has also made a great contribution in the creation of the Digital Platform, which will be used by the three partner universities from Kosovo. Academic and administrative staff have participated in all study visits and trainings held at the partners. Teachers Handbooks and Key Concepts for the Multidisciplinary Center have also been created. UKZ will also receive technological equipment in the amount of € 13,000.00.
The e-VIVA project is a project in partnership with the European University of Tirana and with two partners from each of the Western Balkan countries and partners from Europe, which is about validating the competencies of students in services. A total of 30 students from UKZ will directly benefit from this project, who will be trained and licensed with internationally recognized licenses. As part of this project, UKZ has organized focus groups with businesses that provide services, to closely observe the situation and trends of new employees and how competent they are in the services they provide. Also, a comprehensive analysis of this issue has been made for the entire territory of Kosovo (desk research). Within this project, several study visits have been made to Lisbon, Vienna, Essen, for partners in order to train staff, who will teach students according to syllabi and updated courses with preliminary analysis according to the latest developments. UKZ has also acquired technological equipment to facilitate the implementation of the project in the amount of approximately € 17,000.00.
The project is funded by the capacity building program in higher education, Erasmus +, by the European Commission. The REBUS (Ready for Business) project aims to enable our students to exchange different ideas with students from other universities that are participants in this project. Various innovative ideas for the realization of their projects; Practical and innovative ideas, where the connection with the field of IT will directly affect the development of entrepreneurial ideas and the creation of new jobs in Kosovo; Support for students and professors from the REBUS project: Support for the Mahara platform, which helps connect our professors and students with other universities; Supporting professors and students to train in Graz, Austria for a certain period. Then this knowledge will be disseminated by the participating students and professors at our university. Students of the UKZ, who were beneficiaries of the program for the development of entrepreneurial skills from the REBUS project (REady for BUSiness), funded by Erasmus + of the European Commission, from 15 September to 1 October 2018, have stayed at the University of Applied Sciences Joanneum in Graz, Austria, where among other activities, they have been part of the training for the development of innovative modules, training modules from entrepreneurship and validation of competencies, through which participants had the opportunity to see labour market demands and needs.
The EUFORIA project is the first project won as a partner in the Erasmus + program. The purpose of this project was to connect universities with businesses in Kosovo. In the framework of this project, various study visits and trainings have been carried out to see closely how this connection between universities and businesses works in European countries the universities of which are partners. UKZ has been a major beneficiary in this project, because thanks to it more than 20 cooperation agreements have been signed with various businesses in Gjilan, for internships for students of the Faculty of Economy. UKZ has also established a placement office which maintains contacts between students, UKZ and businesses. UKZ has also acquired technological equipment to supply this office in the amount of approximately 20,000.00 €.
UKZ has been part of a project at Ersamus Mundus in partnership with the University of Vigo in Spain and 24 other European partners. UKZ students and staff have received full scholarships to study at a partner European university in this project. A total of 9 nobilities have been realized, in 3 open calls for 3 years during the project. 7 students from different faculties of UKZ have received full scholarships to study and stay at universities such as the University of Paderborn in Germany, the University of Split in Croatia, the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia, the University of Katwice in Poland. Our students have been successful and have returned with very high grades to continue their remaining studies at UKZ. The academic staff at UKZ has also benefited from this project. One assistant received a full scholarship to study for a doctorate degree at the University of Split in Croatia, while one professor received a two-week training at the University of Vigo in Spain. A professor from the University of Leon has also stayed at UKZ as part of the staff exchange.
The SIAHDPC project is expected to enable Kosovo HEIs to contribute more effectively to health, improving the quality and importance of teaching needed to address future skills mismatches. Also, the development of skills towards a more inclusive and connected higher education system will have a direct impact. This project will also create new and stronger
collaborative links between the education, research and industry “triangle” for higher levels of effectiveness and funding mechanisms. The project will enable the development of knowledge in technology and new knowledge for research and development. Adapted pedagogical and favourable approaches for the development of critical thinking and creativity will also be created. A large number of training sessions will enable the best staff and students to be trained on user involvement, innovation and entrepreneurship, evidence-informed practice and interdisciplinary collaboration, along with industry, clients and other relevant actors.
The STEAMedu project will explore ways to strengthen STEAM education by providing a guide to addressing the development of an evolving STEAM education ecosystem, including the creation of a Master study program (MSc), stakeholder collaboration services and ongoing evaluation procedures. The consortium will adopt a hybrid approach, linking to this research, activities and stakeholders who are willing to contribute towards two specific countries and EU objectives for 2020. The MSc course will be designed to enable its students to inspire more young people to specialize in STEAM during their education in order for them to undertake scientific and technical careers and to address gender gaps and stereotypes in STEAM programs and support the professor’s preparation for this education reform movement. The MSc course will be designed to provide students with an advanced future and a comprehensive understanding of key contemporary debates about STEAM, education, including politics, curriculum, pedagogy and assessment issues in addition to global equity concerns, social justice, economic growth, climate change and sustainability. It will provide an international and national focus, looking at both formal education systems and the broader context of education. There will be a strong emphasis on the critique of research literature and policy papers and the development of knowledge by research methodologies. The program will encourage collaboration, professional networking, and relevant research questions about our contexts and challenges.
The STAND project aims to increase university autonomy in Kosovo. It seeks to develop and update both the management and governance of Kosovo universities and the capacity of national authorities to modernize their higher education systems by supporting the development of adequate autonomy models, the implementation and monitoring reform policies in the autonomy of the university. With the support of EU countries and other partners in the program district, the project aims to promote the transition of Kosovo’s higher education systems to autonomous governance and a sustainable financial system.
As part of the project, the experienced partners of the country of the program and Europe will support the partners of HEIs in Kosovo in the University Autonomy Assessment Card using the card methodology and the development of an adequate model of university autonomy in Kosovo. STAND will also establish an advisory group (Network of Experts) with representatives from HEIs in Kosovo as part of a consortium that will advise partners and provide feedback on guidance material for university autonomy and support the dissemination of results to other universities of Kosovo.
As of 2017, UKZ and the University of Zug are developing a joint project for student and academic staff mobility. Every year, a group of about 20 Swiss students comes on a study visit to UKZ, and about 20 students of the FEd go to the University of Zug for a study visit.
Depending on the case, study visits last 7-10 days. The academic staff of these two universities also organize mutual study visits when there is an interest to do so.
The US Embassy has funded two professors who have stayed at UKZ for one semester, namely one academic year. A professor has lectured in the joint Master programme “Local Government and Democratic Society”, within the FL of the three partner universities from Kosovo and an Assistant has held exercises in English at the FEd. Both professors were funded by the US Embassy Fulbright Programme.
UKZ has been part of the project “Teaching cultures in universities”, where the coordinator of the project was the University of Zurich in Switzerland. The academic staff from the FEd has been part of this project and has participated in all organized workshops: in Zurich, Shkodra, Mitrovica, Tetovo, and the last workshop will be organized in UKZ-Gjilan. The project is under implementation.
UKZ is part of the project “Setting High-Quality Preschool Standards Reinforcing Education, Science & Economy” (SHPRESE), supported by Caritas Switzerland. The main goal of this project is the training of professors and assistants in the faculties of Education in Kosovo with the latest pedagogical methods for the training of students who will be future educators for ages 1-5 years. The academic staff has been an active part of the training held by Caritas, who have also funded the creation of a hall with inventory and toys so that professors can improvise in practical work their lectures on children’s education, where students from the lecture will shift to practical work.
UKZ is part of the KODE/NREN Project, funded by the World Bank to promote economic development and increase employment through the inclusion of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), in particular to enable access to technology resources and knowledge for students and professors of all universities and colleges in Kosovo. The purpose of this project is to build and develop the community of researchers and to develop education in Kosovo, using the capacities and opportunities provided by the “National Research and Education Network in Kosovo” (NREN), which claims to achieve this development by providing this community access to various digital resources, such as access to modern IT infrastructure, various digital services, access to literature, and to provide cooperation between educational institutions inside and outside Kosovo borders. The Ministry of Economy and Environment is implementing the Kosovo Digital Economy Project (KODE) funded by the World Bank, and together with the Kosovo Research and Education Network (KREN) have as a mission to support and facilitate the demands of the scientific, educational, and research community, aiming at a digital transformation and fostering innovation. The National Research and Education Network is assisting universities in developing innovation, research, and education in Kosovo. This project will also serve as a bridge to connect the international GEANT network.
Within the US Embassy University Support Program, UKZ is part of the OPTIMA Project, which aims to develop a comprehensive academic teacher performance system for the University system of public higher education in Kosovo. The project also plans to meet the specific needs of universities as well as to address the concerns of the academic staff and administration in each university. The project plans to include the appropriate standards and guidelines for academic and teaching quality as defined by the ENQA and the KAA. The main objectives of the program are: Obtaining knowledge through review and evaluation of seven public universities on their status in addressing KAA standards for evaluating the work of academic staff. Another objective is to reach a consensus on the general goals and a unified approach to the development of an evaluation process of the academic staff, as well as to draft a comprehensive plan, which will use a multi-step process to be implemented in each university in terms of KAA accreditation standards.
The German GIZ has always supported initiatives by UKZ staff. As a result of good cooperation, we have managed to organize three conferences related to the pilot project “Classes 1 to 5- One or more teachers”. The idea for this project was given by the UKZ staff, which organized three roundtables where they invited responsible persons such as teachers, parents, psychologists, and representatives of institutions. Many aspects have been discussed as to whether it can be implemented and whether it is good for children and primary school teachers. This project has initially started to be implemented as a pilot in a primary school in Gjilan, and after two years, it has been extended to several other schools in Gjilan and several other cities in Kosovo. After a year of implementation, a conference was held, where the findings from the research were presented in the school where it started to be implemented.
In the framework of the cooperation with GIZ, students and professors of the FEd could also attend some training sessions. Two trainings were held for students of the FEd “Summative Assessment and Test Design 1-9”. UKZ students and professors have also been trained in the SPSS research and data extraction program.
And at the end of the project, GIZ has financed all its training programs for the UKZ Institute, giving all training programs to the Institute of the FEd, in order for the Institute to start training teachers in different modules, starting with their certification and scoring.
This project is funded by USAID and is spread in 9 municipalities of RKS, where it will engage about 40 young people. The USAID-funded “Up to Youth” project is intended for Kosovo youth aged 16-24 who are vulnerable to social exclusion, thus mobilizing and empowering them for a positive impact on society. The project targets marginalized youth, especially those underestimated by capital initiatives, with unaddressed stress and trauma, or vulnerable to the development of risky behaviours. The program works to build youth assets and agencies, enabling young people to contribute and play leadership roles in their communities, building and supporting networks and an environment that provides opportunities for positive youth development.
The aim of the project is to positively affect young people, who under the age of 24 make up 42% of the population of Kosovo, of which 52% are unemployed and 30% belong to the informal economy. Full of ambition and desire to integrate fully into the global economy, while being irritated by the opportunities available to them, youth will play a key role in determining Kosovo’s political and economic future, and their voice will be heard.
Within the faculties, professors and students organize research and scientific work.
UKZ and the Municipality of Gjilan have achieved cooperation for the digitalization of the services of the Bus Station and high schools in Gjilan. Students of the FCS have presented their work in the electronic compilation of school hours, school website, digitalization of work and services at the bus station and the application for payment management and hotel services in order to improve services to the public, in this case, schools and enterprises, and in the future other public institutions and the business network in general.
Only in the FCS in the subject of Research Project, which is a compulsory subject in the third semester, these projects have been conducted:
UKZ has been part of 2 projects in HERAS and 2 projects in HERAS +:
With the support of WUS Austria, the HERAS program in Kosovo, UKZ, namely the staff and the students have been beneficiaries of two projects, which are fully funded by this program. The first project is about capacity building in internationalization and project writing in the new public universities in Kosovo. The coordinator of this project was the University of Applied Sciences in Salzburg, Austria, and was led by UKZ. In the framework of this project, a study visit was made to the same university with representatives from the management of each partner university in Kosovo. Various trainings were also held with the academic and administrative staff of each university. The other project funded by HERAS is that of the students of the FL with the topic “Stateless persons and their impact on the university”. According to this project, a research and survey were conducted with citizens who do not have citizenship and at the end, the results of this research were presented and the same was sent to the responsible institutions to take the necessary steps on resolving this issue.
The HERAS + project covers the project for supporting the organization of two workshops for the review of the StP of UKZ, as well as the provision of a HERAS + expert to assist in the review of the StP. Also HERAS + with the other project will support two other workshops for UKZ, in order to draft the Institutional Self-Assessment Report of UKZ and will provide an expert for UKZ in order to provide expertise in compiling this report.
As part of Erasmus +, ICM, UKZ has signed and won 1 project in 2019 on staff and student exchange with Manisa Celal Bayar University, Turkey.
As part of Erasmus +, ICM, UKZ has signed and won 1 project in 2019 on staff and student exchange with Manisa Celal Bayar University, Turkey.
As part of Erasmus +, ICM, UKZ has signed and won 1 project in 2019 on staff and student exchange with Nova Lisboa University in Lisbon, Portugal.
UKZ has also signed mobility agreements with Angel Kancev University in Bulgaria and Alma Mater Europeae, Maribor, Slovenia.
UKZ has also sent requests for ICM agreements with 50 Universities from Erasmus + program countries, with which we have been partners in various international projects such as Erasmus
+ CBHE, or even from contacts that UKZ staff has established through various international forums, conferences and various international workshops.
As part of the KUSA project, the US Embassy has funded eight female students from the UKZ FL to perform paid internships in various relevant justice institutions in Prishtina. Eight female students from the FL, all with a grade point average above 9, have successfully completed internships in the respective institutions, and some of them have even been employed there.
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