Accreditation Agency Visits the University of Prishtina to Strengthen Quality and Transparency in Higher Education

An important meeting was held at the premises of the Rectorate of the University of Prishtina (UP) between representatives of the Kosovo Accreditation Agency (KAA) and the University's management. The meeting was attended by Mr. Shkelzen Gërxhaliu, Director of the Department for Monitoring and Post-Accreditation Procedures, and Ms. Shpresa Shala, Head of the Monitoring Division. The meeting was welcomed by the Vice-Rector for Institutional Development, Quality Assurance, and Student Affairs, Prof. Majlinda Gjelaj.

The primary objective of the meeting was the exchange of information and coordination regarding the monitoring process for the 2025/2026 academic year, in accordance with KAA Regulation No. 04/2025 on monitoring and post-accreditation procedures. The parties discussed the most effective ways to implement accreditation standards and strengthen inter-institutional cooperation to guarantee quality in higher education.

Vice-Rector Majlinda Gjelaj highly valued the meetings with officials from the Kosovo Accreditation Agency. "Cooperation with KAA is essential for sustainable institutional development and for improving quality at all levels of study. These meetings contribute to building a shared culture of quality and institutional accountability," stated Vice-Rector Gjelaj.

Director Shkelzen Gërxhaliu noted that only cooperation between the two institutions improves the quality of higher education. "The monitoring process is a key link in quality assurance in higher education. Through a collaborative approach, we aim to implement accreditation standards in practice and support institutions in their continuous improvement," said Gërxhaliu.

Head of the Monitoring Division , Shpresa Shala praised UP's commitment during KAA's monitoring process. "This meeting was an important opportunity for the exchange of information and coordination of actions that guarantee academic quality. We highly value the University's commitment to the monitoring process," stated Ms. Shala.

Monitoring Visits for the 2025–2026 Academic Year

As part of the monitoring process, the team from the Monitoring Division, led by Ms. Shpresa Shala, conducted informational visits to 14 academic units of the University of Prishtina from October 6–8, 2025. The visits were well-received by the faculties' management and academic development coordinators, reflecting a spirit of cooperation and commitment to quality assurance.

The purpose of the visits was to familiarize the academic units more closely with the monitoring process, the method of implementing standards, and the mechanisms for quality assurance and continuous improvement.

The Kosovo Accreditation Agency (KAA), through its Monitoring Division, has initiated the implementation of the monitoring process for the 2025/2026 academic year, in accordance with the new Regulation on Monitoring and Post-Accreditation Procedures, adopted by KAA in 2025 (see the document here).

To increase student awareness about the importance of quality in higher education, an informational poster with the motto "The Quality of Education Starts with You" has been placed in strategic locations throughout the university. This poster aims to encourage students to be active participants in the learning process and to understand their role in ensuring a quality and effective educational environment.

Key issues addressed during the monitoring visits:

• Student participation in quality assurance mechanisms;
• The composition of the institutional quality assurance team; 
• The use of questionnaires for students, advisory bodies, alumni, and other stakeholders; 
• Monitoring of infrastructure and physical resources (laboratories, equipment, expendable materials); 
• The role and responsibilities of academic program leaders; 
• Class schedules, the number of students in exercises, and the connection with self-assessment reports; 
• The publication of relevant materials on the faculties' official websites; Transparency through the publication of the names of teaching professors; 
• The visibility of the informational poster for students: "The Quality of Education Starts with You"; 
• The publication of a form indicating the cost of studies and information on employment opportunities for each study program; and
• Implementation of Standard 4.2 of the Strategic Plan regarding the availability of information on academic, research, and social activities.

These visits constitute a key tool for strengthening quality and transparency in higher education in Kosovo. They were facilitated by the Division for Academic Development, Quality, Monitoring, and Career, in close cooperation with the respective faculties.

This initiative confirms the shared commitment of the University of Prishtina and KAA to guaranteeing high academic standards and sustainable institutional development.