Presentation of experiences - Strategic Support for the Development of Sustainable QA Structures at the Newly Public Founded University in Kosova, University of Prizren Mjellma Carabregu, WUS Kosova Kick of Meeting and 1 st workshop on Quality Assurance strategy development no March, 2014 Venue University “Haxhi Zeka” in Peje, Kosove

Basic project information Strategic Support for the Development of Sustainable QA Structures at the Newly Public Founded University in Kosova, University of Prizren Joint Project number: TEMPUS DE-TEMPUS-JPGR Duration: 36 months (3 years)

Project objective Main objective: Providing strategic support for the development of a sustainable QA structures for UPPZ, the newest public university in Kosovo founded in Specific objectives: – To develop a QA Strategy in line with the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the EHEA – To support the university management structures – To provide capacity building through the development of training modules for teaching and administrative staff – To support the establishment of Student Support Services – To strengthen the information technology system

Project partners Grant holder: Osnabruck University of Applied Sciences, Osnabruck, Germany Partners: 1.University of Edinburgh, Edinburg -UK 2.University of Girona, Girona-Spain 3.Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg- Sweden 4.Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of Kosova 5.Kosova Accreditation Agency, Kosova 6.University of Prizren, Kosova 7.World University Service Austrian Committee, Graz- Austria (WUS-Austria) 8.World University Service Kosova Committee (WUS Kosova)

The context in in UPz and UHZ – starting point (staff appointment, group appointment for drafting the QA Strategy)

Major project achievements up to date Establishment of the Quality Assurance Office – expanding of the structure; Establishment of the International Relations Office – Coordinator (now, upgrade to Vice – Rector); Establishment of Student Support Services (working on further advancing its services) ; The Quality Assurance and Enhancement Strategy of the Univeristy of Prizren has been developed and approved by the Senate of the University of Prizren. Development of training modules on competence based teaching

Project outcomes 1. Development of a QA strategy 2. Support to UPPz Management structures and Capacity Building 3. Development of training modules for teaching and administrative staff 4. Establishment of Student Support Services 5. Strengthening the information technology system 6. Quality control 7. Sustainability 8. Dissemination 9. Management of the project

Quality Assurance Office – tasks Responsible for internal and external Quality Assurance of the University of Prizren; Leading the process of accreditation in cooperation with the Deans of the Faculties, teaching and administrative staff, and students’ representatives under the supervision of Vice Rector for Teaching and Scientific Research and Rector of the University of Prizren; Drafting the Self Evaluation Report; Evaluation of the teaching and learning process at the University of Prizren; Communication on the regular basis with Kosovo Accreditation Agency; Presenting the trends in the higher education at home university; Coordination on Drafting the Quality Assurance Strategy.

International Relations Office: Regular working contract with the University of Prizren. The main tasks of the International Relations Office consists of: Support University staff and provide advice to enquirers, applicants, new students and current students who are from outside Kosova; Manage the University's exchange programmes, this includes supporting outgoing exchange students and managing the receipt of transcripts on their return and advising incoming exchange students; Oversee or assist with services to help support current international students, including visa support, language support, careers and other support; Represent and promote the University overseas, and support staff with international expertise; Facilitate development of different teaching and research partnerships; Information distribution to students and academic staff on different scholarship opportunities.

Student Support Service Regular working contract with the University. As the Unit has been just recently established (October 2012) the project is supporting the Unit to strengthen its services on Career and Academic Counseling. Thus further efforts are put on specializing Student Support Services on the following areas: - Provides impartial guidance and information; - Provides centrally and in partnership with academic units, a range of career development learning opportunities; - Builds relationships with all types of employing and training organizations in order to market graduates of the University; - Enables students to build up work experience and support themselves; - Communicates development in the graduate market to the University and wider community.

Challenges? – Solutions?

Difficulties Frequent change of the management structure Late appointment of the Team for drafting the QA Strategy Equipment purchase – different requests for equipment purchase Low number of staff with regular contracts Establishment of relations with the regional companies Lack of motivation by the staff to follow – up on further institutional development Visa issue

Methodology Study visits Trainings Workshops Hands on trainings Advice on daily basis Daily support via s …..in EU project partner countries, and Kosova… Remark: Visits to the EU project partner institutions should not be perceived as touristic visits