Target area:	Higher Education Development
Sub-target area:	Higher Education Management
Target countries:	Kosovo
Duration:	15/12/2011-30/09/2015
Partners:	ZSI-Zentrum für Soziale Innovation/Centre for Social Innovation OeAD GmbH- Österreichischer Austauschdienst/Austrian Exchange Service   University of Prishtina University of Prizren University of Mitrovica Ministry of Education, Science and Research Kosovo Accreditation Agency National Research Council NARIC Centre
Budget line:	Austrian Development Cooperation

Project description

The project „Higher KOS – Promoting Institutional Development in Higher Education and Research in Kosovo“ contributes to the well-functioning of the higher education and research system in Kosovo along European values, practices and standards.

Its purpose is to effectively and sustainable implement the principles of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) in the public Kosovan Higher Education (HE) institutions and to sustainably enhance Kosovo’s integration into the European Research Area (ERA).

The intervention focuses on three thematic areas, leading to three expected results each contributing to the above mentioned objectives:

(1)   The quality of education offered at public HE institutions will be enhanced through improved and labour market oriented teaching and learning (didactics, planning), and improved quality assurance mechanisms.

(2)   The system of research promotion in Kosovo will be improved substantially through developing capacities and establishing a national research fund and administration that is functioning according to international standards.

(3)   Quality management and governance as well as administrative capacities of main stakeholders (MEST, universities) will be further developed in order to be more efficient, transparent, effective and customer-oriented.

The three thematic areas are divided into ten components, thus allowing tailor-made measures for each of the expected results, specifically targeted at the direct beneficiaries. Direct target institutions are: the public universities of Kosovo: University of Prishtina, University of Prizren, University of Mitrovica; the MEST, the Kosovo Accreditation Agency, the Kosovo NARIC Office, and the National Research Council (approx. 2.000 staff members in total). Indirect beneficiaries are the student populations of the three public universities (ca. 55.000) as well as the students of private universities and graduates with foreign degrees returning to Kosovo (approx. another 10.000). Through enhanced research capacities and improved RTDI (Research, Technological Development and Innovation) structures in Kosovo, economic development and entrepreneurship are stimulated from which the whole society benefits. To this end, the project also contributes to poverty reduction and economic development.