Development and progress of internal and external QA system of the private higher education sector in Kosovo, in the period 2008-2011

Mr. Sc. But Dedaj, Prof. Dr. Peter Eckl, M.Sc. Mjellma Carabregu

IMHE General Conference 2012Attaining and Sustaining Mass Higher Education

Paris, 17-19 September, 2012

Kosova – data profile • Kosova is the newest European Country, the Independence

declared on 17th February 2008• Around 1.8 million inhabitant• GDP per capita 3,593 US$ (around 2,850 € )• Unemployment rate 45%• 70% of population is under 35 years• In Kosova the Bologna Process started in 2001/2002 • Since 2002 the diversification of the higher education

providers started • In total there are around 90.000 students enrolled (60.000

in public providers and 30.000 in private providers).

Private Higher Education Providers• In 2008, there were thirty private higher education providers

(PHEP)• In 2008 The British Accreditation Council (BAC) conducted a

survey and produced a report • Based on BAC report, none of PHEPs was accredited• PHEPs had one year to fulfill BAC recommendations• One of the weakest points: System of Quality Assurance• The Kosovo Accreditation Agency (KAA)has been established

in March 2008 • Ministry of Education Science and Technology of

Kosovo(MESTK) announced the year of 2008 as a year of Quality Assurance

Supporting and Developing the QA Structures for the PHEPs

• TEMPUS project financed by the European Commission• Duration: January 2010 - January 2012. • Grant holder University of Salzburg (Prof. Peter Eckl)• Partners: 3 EU universities, 10 PHEPs, MESTK & Kosova Agency of

Accreditation• Objectives/Work packages:

– Conducting the status-quo analysis; – Capacity building;– Developing the QA system at the PHEP in Kosovo;– Dissemination; – Sustainability; – Quality Control and Monitoring.

Important activities• Development of questionnaires for status-quo report,

addressing the following:a) Quality of teaching and learning assessmentb) Quality of research and developmentc) Quality of administration and student support servicesd) Quality of management

• Guiding principles: Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area

• Installment of the QA system at 10 PHEPs (1-3 employees) ,• Info days for management, students, teaching and

administrative staff.

Achieved objectives• QA offices established in 10 PHEPs• Purchased the equipment for 10 PHEPs• The PHEPs officers/staff trained at the project EU partner

institutions• Established the communication and cooperation among

PHEPs • The trainings on EU trends on QA for the management,

students, academic staff delivered• Promotion material designed and distributed• Web-page developed• Manual for QA and Guidelines for Self-evaluation developed• Three study visits conducted at the EU universities

Thank you for your attention!

butdedaj@hotmail.competer.eckl@sbg.ac.at

mjellma.carabregu@wus.kosova.org