The Council of Quality answers to the reactors: Frozen compromises with research programs

K The SHC in a reaction has said its legitimacy is from the Parliament and only it can be taken from it.

As far as the decision on suspending 42 programmes has been said to make decisions on the basis of the legal framework, and that without applying the Standards and Guide for Quality Insurance in the European Higher Education Area cannot become membership in ENQA and ECA.

“K The SC operates and functions under the legal framework, more specifically: Law No. 04/L-037 For Higher Education and Administratorial Guides for Recognition of Higher Education Institutions in the Republic of Kosovo: No. 15/2018, date: 28.09.18. K The SC makes comprehensive legal decisions in force and in line with the Standards and Guides for Quality Insurance in the European Higher Education Zone. It is worth refocusing that applying these standards is a prerequisite for membership of the Republic of Kosovo's Accreditation Agency (AKA) in European Association for Quality Security - EQUE and return to European Quality Assurance Register QAR. The SEE offers European expertise in accrediting programmes in our country. ECAR recognises diplomas received in higher education in Kosovo. If Kosovo is not a member, then the process of accreditation becomes difficult and students will face difficulties recording and/or transfer to research programmes abroad. Furthermore, not recognising diplomas results in exemptions in employment and mobileity in the area of higher education in Europe”, said in response.

In reaction, K The SC has also said that study programmes deal with the pre-priced criteria in the Law of Higher Education and Administration Guide, adding Article 26, paragraph 5.3.4 for the minimum study application: “for research programs which carry to obtaining at least a scientific degree Bachelor and Master, the requirements for academic staff are for every group of students (set by the IAL statute) and for every 60CS programme should have at least a regular working relationship with at least with the PhD field. ”

Article 5,3.6 defines that: Dr. Sc., requirements for academic staff are that for each institution study programme there should be at least three (3) regular working relations with the academic title Prof. Asoc. Dr. Or Prof. Dr. from the study program field. Also, Article 30, details the procedure of the academic staff's declaration of commitment, and obliges the KSHC to act in harmony with legislation in force. Most specifically, Article 30's Paragraph 3 of Administrative Guide No. 15/2018 requires that: Only the declared academic staff and approved by the AKA will be considered in the process of accrediting/recidience for the following year and the established academic staff of the AKA for existing programmes under the monitoring process”, said in response.

K The SC has said it is disappointing and regret that some public institutions have failed to meet the minimum requirements for accreditation and reregisterment.

For more, The KSHC says it has officially informed all institutions of higher education, on June 11, 2018, of the terms of accreditation and re-accreditment and staff declaration.

The council has offered several examples “as some public institutions of higher education have failed to provide qualified staff according to the program hosting field”.

# 1 University “Haxhi Zeka”

Human Resources Management Programme, MSc (120 ECTS), two P.D. programme carriers. in fields: 1) Economy; 2) Philology

# 2 Pristina University “hasan Pristina”

Education Guide programme, MA (90 ECTS) level, two holders of the program with Ph.D. in fields: 1) History; 2) Psychologist

# 3 Mitrovica University “Isa Bolatini”

Pre-school Education Program, BA (240 ECTS) level, four holders of the program with Ph.D. in fields: 1) Physical Culture and Sports; 2) Medical science, 3) Sociology; 4) physics

# 4 University of Gjilan “Kadri Zeka”

Start Up Education Program, BA (240 ECTS) level, four holders of the program with Ph.D. in fields: 1) Philology; 2) Philology; 3) Philology; 4) Language; and Didaktics

# 5 University of Gjakova “Fehmi Agani”

Start Up Education Program, BA (240 ECTS) level, four P.D. programme carriers in fields: 1) Kim; 2) Machine; 3) History; 4) Social Work

♪ 6 University of Applied Sciences ] Ferizaj

Hotel and Tourism Management Program, BSc (180 ECTS) level, three holders of the programme with Ph.D. in the fields: 1) Economics; 2) Paraclinics/Media; 3) Philology.

“K The SC remains committed to decision-making with accountability, transparency, and open to dialogue with hisedars in Kosovo and the international community. We remind you that every meeting of the KSHC is monitored by representatives of civil society and the media. We see KSHC's decisions in the function of establishing quality in higher education along the public and private sector. We aim at high quality education and varied research programmes in all Kosovo centres according to the European area's contemporary standards. We believe that only through quality mechanisms Kosovo will be able to participate in the international arena. It is not the aim of the KSCH to close programmes, but the security and advancement of quality”, said in response.

K The US says it aims to place Kosovo on international higher education networks and scientific activity.

Therefore, we are committed to returning AKA to ECAR and establishing international furniture. Rejecting quality standards by the appointed institutions will not only burden the institutional development of higher education, but will keep Kosovo students and Kosovo out of global flow and trends of knowledge and work. K The US through quality insistence aims to build European Kosovo and pave the way for intellectual development of future students and generations. K The SC will not compromise minimum legal requirements and quality standards in higher education despite different pressures. K The SC is a responsible institution and protects public interest through quality care in higher education. We invite the Heedars and all interested in co-ordinating standards in accreditation today and vision for Kosovo as a society of knowledge, not conduct outside formal rules, threats and requirements for maintaining the status quo in the function of power structures. We invite public universities to exploit legal ways of complaining and to avoid informal practices and public opinion. Likewise, we invite IAL to be model institutions of knowledge, democratic leadership, transparency and rule of law”, said at the end of the response.