On March 19, Group for Legal and Political Studies (GLPS) organized a Roundtable Discussion on the topic: “Legal loopholes in Kosovo’s legislative framework on issues related to the higher education sector”, held in Prishtina. The aim of this event was to discuss the overall quality of the higher education sector in Kosovo, shortcomings of the legal framework that regulate this area, the performance of the Kosovo Accreditation Agency (KAA), and the quality of the private higher education institutions in Kosovo, among others. During the discussion, GLPS presented a draft of a Policy Analysis on the topic, which at this initial phase specifically addresses the legal loopholes in the field of higher education, to further expand on the quality of private higher education institutions in Kosovo, as well as the role of KAA in providing the quality of services offered by these private institutions. The final version of this Analysis will be published in September after a period of monitoring based on measurable indicators, and will provide a number of recommendations, which are intended to contribute on the overall growth of quality in this sector, and to improve the legislative environment and policies pertaining to the higher education system in Kosovo. Ms. Nagavci, as a member of the Parliamentary Commission on Education, discussed how we shall all put our attention on issues of education in order to ensure full professionalism and transparency. She emphasized the utmost necessity that The Law on Higher Education continues to be part of the legislative plan of 2018 in order to guarantee a higher quality of higher education in Kosovo. Also, she explained and elaborated how the draft law on higher education was part of the past legislature but, due to political problems it was been removed. Ms. Roccassalvo, the UNDP Deputy Representative in Prishtina emphasized the necessity of increasing transparency, fighting corruption and nepotism in this field. She added that the UNDP supports every effort on improving the quality of education in Kosovo and mentioned the other UNDP projects in this field. In addition, Mr. Pupovci, the Executive Director of the Kosovo Center for Education explained how there has been two laws so far trying to regulate this field. The current draft law represents the third effort on trying to increase the quality of higher education and regulate it in a legal way. He added that all the political dismissals of the Board of the AKA during the years, have contributed on destroying the quality of education more than once. Finally, Mr. Gjinovci, the Executive Director of ORCA explained the consequences of the exclusion of the AKA from ENQA and EQAR and how that will affect the higher education system in Kosovo. He informed us that there has been some developments on the issue of the AKA Board. An Administrative Instruction has been drafted aiming to regulate and concretize the procedures and the criteria on the procedure of appointing and dismissing the Board of the AKA. This roundtable is organized under a project supported by UNDP – Support to Anti-Corruption Efforts in Kosovo (SAEK).

Panelists:

Ms. Arberie Nagavci – Member of the Committee for Education, Science, Technology, Youth, Spor, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Kosovo Assembly

Ms. Alessandra Roccasalvo – UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Kosovo;

Mr. Dukagjin Pupovci – Executive Director, Kosovo Education Centre (KEC)

Mr. Rron Gjinovci – Executive Director, Organization for the Promotion of Quality in Education (ORCA)

Venue: Hotel Sirius – Ariga Hall, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo