The Minister of Education and Science, Hajrulla Çeku, took part in the Fourth International Conference of the Kosovo Accreditation Agency, with the theme “Internal quality assurance in higher education institutions: From evaluation to a culture of quality.”

The conference gathered representatives of higher education institutions, quality assurance agencies from partner countries, experts, professors, and students to discuss how external evaluation and internal systems can drive continuous improvement in higher education.

In his address, Minister Çeku stated that Kosovo aims for its universities to be recognized as part of the European Higher Education Area and to operate according to its standards. He praised the registration of the Kosovo Accreditation Agency in the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education, as well as its recognition this year by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation in the United States. According to the Minister, these achievements demonstrate that Kosovo’s institutions can gain international trust through clear standards and professional work.

The Minister emphasized that the quality of higher education is in the interest of the entire Republic of Kosovo and that professional decisions must be based on expertise and merit. He noted that the position and professional independence of the Agency have been strengthened by law, ensuring that its academic judgment and decision-making are protected from interference.

Speaking about the development of higher education in the coming decade, Minister Çeku highlighted the need for clearer missions for universities, public funding in service of quality, strengthening scientific research, and more direct links with the labor market and society. He stressed that the University of Prishtina should be empowered as the leading university, while other public universities should build clear profiles aligned with the country’s developmental needs.

On the theme of the conference, Minister Çeku underlined that external accreditation is an important mechanism, but quality is created within universities. He called on higher education institutions to make quality part of their daily work, not just preparation for the accreditation process.

At the opening of the conference, welcoming remarks were delivered by the Chair of the State Council of Quality, Avni Berisha, and the Austrian Ambassador to Kosovo, Georg Schnetzer. The Acting Director General of the Kosovo Accreditation Agency, Arianit Krasniqi, presented the Agency’s recent work and achievements. The Director of ENQA, Anna Gover, spoke about European perspectives on the role and achievements of quality assurance agencies in strengthening the culture of quality in higher education institutions, while former Chair of the State Council of Quality, Hasnije Ilazi, addressed the role of the Agency in developing and evaluating internal quality assurance systems and practices.

The conference is held within the framework of the SHER project, funded by the Austrian Development Cooperation.