HERAS Plus offers support toward the strengthening of the Kosovo Accreditation Agency capacities
On 4th November 2020, the HERAS Plus and Kosovo Accreditation Agency (KAA) formalized a new cooperation within the HERAS Plus project by signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), through which the KAA will benefit institutional and technical support in strengthening the capacities to develop and regulate higher education and fulfill the required criteria to return of Kosovo Accreditation Agency in the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA).
Kosovo Accreditation Agency Director, Mr. Naim Gashi, stated that by implementing this memorandum, the KAA will almost round up the criteria fulfillment for the return of the Agency in ENQA. Mr. Gashi stated that the Memorandum targets the main needs of the Kosovo Accreditation Agency towards developing and ensuring quality in higher education (as one of the main national priorities of Kosovo) that enable the preconditions to connect higher education with the job market.
The Project Team Leader of HERAS+, Mr. Aqim Emurli stated that this is a great opportunity for both parties involved in this cooperation (KAA and HERAS Plus Project) since the Memorandum contains specifications of all activities to be addressed during the project implementation (2020-2023) with the principal aim of returning KAA in The European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA).
Through this MoU, the Kosovo Accreditation Agency will benefit support with international legal expertise towards completion of the legislation and other juridical acts; will map a guideline and manual for International experts training – who are part of the accreditation process in Kosovo; will offer support in standards review, especially the standard related to the number of students that can be accommodated in a study program; support will be offered also in developing the Strategic Plan of the Agency; developing of guidelines and processes for external quality assurance for Institutions and applied sciences programs; there will be study visits for experience exchanges between Kosovo and Austria, etc.
