UP Rector Speaks to “Sami Frashëri” High School Students on State‑Building and Kosovo’s History

On the eve of the 18th anniversary of Kosovo’s declaration of independence, Rector Prof. Arben Hajrullahu delivered a lecture and held a discussion with students from “Sami Frashëri” High School about Kosovo’s path toward freedom, independence, and state‑building.

During the lecture and the Q&A session that followed, key moments in Kosovo’s history were discussed, especially the period after World War II up to the present day.

Rector Hajrullahu noted that 27 November 1968 marked a starting point for today’s Kosovo state, when demonstrations at the time called for the creation of the University of Prishtina and a Republic of Kosovo. He added that the state we have today is the result of processes that lasted for decades and, above all, of the clear direction set by the country’s political elites.

The meeting with the students acknowledged that, despite the challenges and problems it has faced and may still face, Kosovo has made great progress and is far better in all aspects than it was, for example, a quarter of a century ago.

Addressing the students of Prishtina’s oldest high school, the Rector recalled the words of Japanese jurist and former President of the International Court of Justice, Hisashi Owada, who, upon receiving an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Prishtina on 18 June 2025, stated: “What you have achieved in Kosovo can be appreciated in this new light of human victory rather than a victory between nations.”

The Rector encouraged the students to work hard for a better future for themselves and for the country, pointing out that they live in a time rich with opportunities, which they should fully embrace. One such opportunity is tuition‑free education at UP, made possible by the taxes paid by Kosovo’s citizens.

In the presence of the high school director, Prof. Betim Sylejmani, and the event organizer, teacher Hamide Sahiti‑Beha, students asked questions and received answers about various historical periods and current issues.

At the end, student Vlera Shala presented Rector Hajrullahu with a portrait of the patriot and activist Hasan Prishtina.