On 16 September 2021, WUS Austria representatives and international experts, Ms. Veronika Nitsche and Ms. Louise Sperl, had productive meetings with the leadership of two public universities in Kosovo, namely, University “Isa Boletini” in Mitrovica (UIBM), and University “Fehmi Agani” in Gjakova” (UFAGJ). The meetings were in the context of HERAS Plus Project, specifically part of the monitoring visit that aims to evaluate the progress made, in this case at the university level.

Ms. Nitsche, on behalf of  WUS Austria, as well as on behalf of the three-party consortium (WUS Austria, ZSI and OeAD) that is implementing the project, thanked the rectors, Mr. Alush Musaj of UIBM and Mr. Artan Murati of UFAGJ, for their unwavering cooperation with the Project, and for their commitment in the process of advancing the overall higher education system in Kosovo.

In return, the rectors Mr. Musaj and Mr. Nimani, and their teams, positively assessed the progress made in the framework of HERAS Plus and engaged in discussing the future joint activities. The Rectors expressed appreciations for the contribution, made by the Project, in matters that relate to strategic planning, internal legal framework, preparations for accreditation, building institutional capacities and international networking and mobility.

On 10 February 2021, the first Steering Board (SB) meeting was conducted successfully via online platforms.

The project Team Leader Aqim Emurli offered an overall presentation of the progress of the project implementation, in the presence of SB members: Austrian Development Agency, Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kosovo and Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research as well as in the presence of the consortium members.

The representatives of the consortium members WUS AT, ZSI and OeAD also addressed this meeting. They updated on the achievements, challenges and possibilities throughout the project implementation, including here the pandemic situation and its impact on the project. 

The Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kosovo, represented by Ms. Shpresa Mehmeti, informed on the latest political developments and the successful impact of the project within the Ministry.

The meeting was chaired by the Austrian Development Agency.

In the end, the project team received clearance and advices to continue on the same path in the upcoming period. .

Online information session on Research Grants was held on 23d of December 2020,  to disseminate information on the objectives, outlines, expected results, methodology, eligibility criteria, selection procedure and other necessary information pertaining to the HERAS Plus call on RESEARCH GRANTS.

The online information session hosted the main presentation by Ms. Andrea Mayr from our consortium partner ZSI, with opening remarks and moderation by Ms. Fitore Fazliu, Thematic Coordinator for Research and Innovation at HERAS Plus. The presentation and discussions touched upon (but not limited to) possible areas of cooperation, focus areas and eligibility.

Research Grant’s objectives include promoting international scientific cooperation and networking between Austrian researchers, researchers from Kosovo and researchers from the Western Balkan region in the thematic areas of the call; empowerment of young and early stage Kosovan researchers engaged at public universities in Kosovo to work within international academic networks projects;  strengthening the participation of researchers from the public universities  in Kosovo in regional collaborative research networking projects; as well as adopting, generating, exploiting and disseminating scientific methods and/or research results between Austria, Kosovo and the Western Balkan region in the chosen thematic area.

Important information:

Partners/Consortium composition: Minimum: 1 partner (as contractor/coordinator) from Austria and 1 partner from Kosovo.

Eligible organisations: public universities and universities of applied sciences from Austria, Kosovo and the Western Balkan region.

Not eligible: private universities, non-university research organisations, individual researchers, companies.

The involvement from researchers from the Western Balkan region is highly encouraged. Researchers from other European countries can participate but without any funding provided under this call. .