Rector Zejnullahu meets with donors and partners at the University of Prishtina
Prishtina, 18 September – The Rector of the University of Prishtina Dr. Ramadan Zejnullahu had a meeting with Ms. Sophie Beaumont from the EU Office in Kosovo, Mr. Christian Geosits from ADA, Mr. Brian Fahey from USAID, and Mr. Almir Kovačeviċ from WUS Austria.
The rector thanked the international donors for contributing to the process of reformation, modernization and advancement of both the personnel and study programmes of the University of Prishtina. He added that building capacities within the University of Prishtina remains one of the key priorities.
Ms. Sophie Beaumont from EU office in Kosovo, after congratulating Mr. Zejnullahu for being elected in the position of the Rector, added that the EU Office in Kosovo is very much interested to continue the cooperation in the process of reforming the University of Prishtina. Ms. Beaumont also said that they are interested to see that the University of Prishtina manages to keep its functional autonomy from political influences.
In addition, Ms. Beaumont mentioned the programmes for building research and scientific capacities in UP (such as Erasmus Plus, Horizont 2020) which aimt to support the university in terms of mobility of academic staff and students as well as with scholarships and research programmes. She emphasized the importance of developing capacities in the University of Prishtina for absorbing such funds.
Mr. Christian Geosits from ADA thanked the rector for the meeting and congratulated him for the new position adding that there is still a need to further extend the partnerships for advancing higher education institutions. He also mentioned the need for revising the Law on Higher Education and the legal framework that regulates higher education institutions in Kosovo. Mr. Geosits expressed his concern with regards to budget cuts that have occurred in the University of Prishtina.
Mr. Brian Fahey underlined that USAID has continuously supported the University of Prishtina, mentioning a number of projects implemented in cooperation with the UP. Mr. Zejnullahu said that his team will be committed to creating more space for cooperation with international donors and that all conditions will be created to facilitate such cooperation in practical level.
Mr. Almir Kovačeviċ from WUS Austria congratulated the rector for the new post and expressed the readiness to continue supporting the reforming process in the University of Prishtina.
Representatives of USAID, ADA, EU Office and WUS Austria offered full support to the rector and agreed to continue the intensive cooperation, considering the fact that the priorities of the rector and international donors are fully complementary.
