MAST gives explanation for student petition

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, with the goal of providing fair information to students of public universities and private colleges, has clarified about the Petition points for meeting the student requirements of the Republic of Kosovo.

With regard to the following points (to petition), MAST explains the following:

1. To answer for the situation in which the Kosovo Agency for Accreditation is in place and to account for its exclusion from ECAR.

Following the expulsion of the Kosovo Agency for Accreditation (AKA) from ECAR, MAST is doing its jobs in full accordance with Kosovo's Assembly recommendations.

2. The budget for higher education in 2019 is for at least 50% greater than in 2018. Through this growth, public universities' budgets should be increased and invested in higher education infrastructure.

We are constantly seeking to increase the budget for the education sector in general and education become government priority. So, as the budget increases for the education sector, there will be greater opportunities to have more budgets for Higher Education, and not only.

3. Building the facility of the Faculty of Natural Mathematics.

In terms of building the facility in question, we explain that it is not the responsibility of MAST, but of the University of Pristina. MAST has made its contribution to mediating for resolving this issue about the construction space that was between Pristina University and the Pristina municipality, and this has already been resolved by the new UP Council, appointed by Minister Bytyqi.

4. Construction of the facility of the Economic Faculty.

This is the issue belonging to the University of Pristina. Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Willing to Support UP in progress.

5. Ensuring scholarships for public universities in which the STAT required means are not donated for years now.

MAST each year shared students' scholarships for each public university. We're going to make a commission that will verify where these tools are spent that are divided for student scholarships, and if the commission finds that this budget line is used for something else, then punishment under the Budget Law will follow. In the years to come, we're going to engage to divide more tools for scholarships.

6. College equipment with scientific research labs.

We constantly support these cases within the possibilities that we have depending on the demands that come from the faculties.

7. Enhancing the number of libraries, improving conditions in current conditions, and enriching them with literature in Albanian.

This is a matter that belongs to universities, but we'll still make our contribution as MAST, depending on the demands.

8. Ensure free access to students and academic staff of higher education institutions on electronic scientific platforms.

This should be done in collaboration with universities.

9. Offering employment opportunities for students. The voluntary experiences they receive during their studies, contrary to the legislation in power, are not recognized as work experience.

This case is not MAST.

10. Ensuring professional practice in institutions or state or private agencies.

Last year, such a possibility existed in August, but as Minister Bytyqi's arrival, this has stopped. At the same time, we ask him for an account to close this opportunity for students.

There is an agreement in force (even though there has been no budgetary line so far), which enables the commitment of practical work to 50 students of public universities, against a three-month fee.

We have changed nothing from this agreement and are expected to open the call for applications for practical work in April.

11. Financial independence of other public universities, as a necessity for their functioning.

This is regulated by their statute, which must be adopted in the Assembly.