The Rector of the University of Prishtina and the Director of CRSATK Visit the Medical University of Graz

In September 2025, the University of Prishtina, in cooperation with the College of Surgeons of Kosovo, signed a cooperation memorandum with the Medical University of Graz in Austria for the further development of the Center for Research, Simulation, and Advanced Surgical and Medical Training of Kosovo (CRSATK) at the University of Prishtina. 

During the first visit after the signing of the memorandum, the Rector of the University of Prishtina, Prof. Dr. Arben Hajrullahu, and the Director of CRSATK, Prof. Dr. Rifat Latifi, met with the Rector of the Medical University of Graz, Prof. Dr. Andrea Kurz, and the Head of the Department of Surgery, Prof. Dr. Lars‑Peter Kamolz. They discussed the current development plan and the support from the prestigious Austrian higher education institution for consolidating and advancing CRSATK at the University of Prishtina. 

According to the memorandum, the academic and scientific partnership will include cooperation in the fields of treatment, research, curriculum development, postgraduate continuing education, quality assurance, institutional development, information dissemination, and the exchange of students, professors, and staff. 

During the meeting, Prof. Dr. Arben Hajrullahu, Prof. Dr. Rifat Latifi, and Lumnije Kqiku‑Biblekaj from the Department of Dentistry and Oral Health agreed with Rector Prof. Dr. Andrea Kurz and Prof. Dr. Lars‑Peter Kamolz to deepen and expand their mutual collaboration. 

Cooperation plans include securing funds for the renovation of CRSATK, joint training programs, collaborative projects and mutual exchanges, knowledge transfer, and overall close collaboration. The overarching goal is the sustainable development of modern surgical training and research structures in Kosovo and beyond. 

The Center for Research, Simulation, and Advanced Surgical and Medical Training of Kosovo at the University of Prishtina, which will provide educational and research support for all surgical specialties and address important issues such as medical diplomacy and advanced technologies, was founded in July 2025. In November 2025, the internationally renowned surgeon, physician, and professor, Prof. Dr. Rifat Latifi, was appointed as its director.