Srategies in the Higher Education Area in Kosovo

Considering that the performance of higher education institutions in particular and the situation of education in generak in Kosovo has often been deemed unsatisfactory by the broader masses, the civil society, students’ perceptions, and the relevant institutions, it is important to analyze higher education strategies to explore the range of coordination among them, the level of redundancy and overlap of objectives. Since the new Strategic Plan for Education in Kosovo (SPEK) is currently being drafted, a question arises: is it time for a thorough planning, and if yes, what does this mean?

This project intends to analyze and compare trends for assessing issues in the higher education from the institutional aspect. Specifically, the research focuses on five indicators:

• transparency and accountability,
• scientific work,
• inclusion,
• linking study programs with the labour market, and
• accreditation

The research compares and reviews defined objectives and the level to which they are met across all strategies (and action plans) of higher education in Kosovo, issued by the Government of Kosovo and the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), and across university strategies (and annual reports) of the University of Prishtina (UP).

For purposes of this research, the National Development Strategy (NDS) and the guide for its implementation, the Strategic Plan for Education in Kosovo (SPEK) 2017-2021 and the Action Plan, the Strategic Plans of the UP 2017-2019 and 2020-2022 were reviewed with special focus. To assess the implementation of strategies, with focus on the abovementioned indicators, the cases of three UP faculties, namely the Faculty of Electric and Computer Engineering (FIEK), the Faculty of Education, and the Faculty of Philosophy were reviewed in detail. To this end, indepth interviews were conducted with the respective managements. Further, a raound table with persons in charge and representatives of relevant higher education institutions, with education specialists and experts, with organisations that focus on education, and so on, was envisaged. The recommendations from this round table shall be incorporated in the final report.