On 19-20 November 2021, HERAS Plus Project supported the University “Ukshin Hoti” in Prizren with a 2-day workshop on Strategic Planning. The Project offered expert support in providing an overview of Strategic Plan 2020-2024, including gaps that exist from planning to monitoring and evaluation. In this context, the support focused in, first, reviewing the Strategic Plan mainly in terms of designing realistic indicators at Strategic Objectives, Results, and Activity level, and also reviewing and revising the Risk Assessment and Risk Mitigation Measures.

Secondly, the Project facilitated a consolidated training program on Monitoring and Evaluation in the strategic planning cycle. In this context, the support focused not only in explaining where the monitoring and the evaluation process in the strategic planning cycle begins and ends, but also providing tools and techniques on how to make these processes more successful. The training program clarified the difference between Monitoring and Evaluation, and also discussed the structures and criteria. Further, the training offered a deliberation on the concrete steps, reporting focus and structure. Finally the support also included provision of a template or a model for a successful reporting.

The workshop was part of support provided to University “Ukshin Hoti” in Prizren based on the competitive fund for strategic development of public universities.

On 09 March, HERAS Plus project team had a constructive meeting with the representatives of the University “Ukshin Hoti” in Prizren (UPZ).

The team leader of the HERAS Plus project Mr. Aqim Emurli, expressed the satisfaction in supporting UPZ along with other universities in building their capacities to address issues such as accreditation standards, quality assurance and expressed readiness to continue the cooperation with UPZ in the future. Mr. Emurli stressed that there are concrete opportunities for cooperation and support that will contribute to the institutional and programmatic development for the University.

Rector of the University “Ukshin Hoti” Prizren, Prof. Assoc. Dr. Ismet Temaj, accompanied by Prof. Ass. Dr. Shemsi Morina, Vice Rector for Teaching, Student Affairs and Scientific Research informed about the situation at the University, including the achievements and challenges they face, and expressed gratitude and thanks for the HERAS Plus project for supporting the university during the process of the institutional re-accreditation, a process which has passed successfully as a result also of cooperation with the previous project “HERAS”.

In addition during the meeting Mr. Emurli, received an official ‘Letter of Appreciation’ by the Rector Mr. Temaj for the support provided during the re-accreditation process of his University. The Team Leader, on behalf of the Consortium and the Donor, thanked the Rector for great cooperation and assured for continued support towards the strategic development of University of Prizren “Ukshin Hoti”.