On 30 April 2021, the Project HERAS Plus launched the Baseline Assessment Report for the University “Isa Boletini” in Mitrovica (UIBM). The Report is an overview of UIBM’s institutional development. In addition it provides valuable recommendations for progress.

Mr. Aqim Emurli, Team Leader of HERAS Plus Project, on this occasion noted that the Baseline Assessments (BA), which are currently being conducted for all the seven public Universities, in fact, are the first ones of its kind in Kosovo. The assessments, and the BA Reports, are a modest contribution, but in the right direction and using the correct approach, with an impact reaching beyond the public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Kosovo. The Project is working to advance the overall higher education and research system the in Kosovo, in order to make it better governed, more international, coherent, effective and efficient, fostering students’ employability and the third mission of universities.

The Report launching event was witnessed by Ms. Sandra Horina, the head of local office in Prishtina from the Austrian Development Agency, who congratulated UIBM and HERAS Plus for the great steps taken in assessing the overall developmental situation of the University along with identifying the areas for improvement, which in the Report are expressed in the form of Recommendations with clear mechanisms and indicators. Further, Ms. Horina expressed satisfaction that Austrian funds and Austrian support is not only made available to the public Universities in Kosovo, but also the funds and the support are utilized in the most efficient manner. In this regard, Ms. Horina praised the HERAS Plus Project as the “Austrian Flagship Project in Kosovo” and encouraged the Rector of the UIBM, the academic staff, and the students to make a good use of all opportunities provided by the Project.

In return, the Rector, Mr. Alush Musaj, expressed his enthusiasm and hope to see the great cooperation between the UIBM and HERAS Plus continue and develop beyond the support in conducting the BA. In this regards, the Rector highlighted that he, and the University leadership team, are looking forward to the Project’s support also in implementing the key recommendations that came from the BA.

The event concluded with the ceremonial signing of the MoU between the Project and UIBM, thus setting the frame for a well-structured cooperation.