US Embassy: Any political interference in the work of the Agency for Accreditation is unacceptable

The US Embassy Public Relations Official in Pristina, Ray Nayler, during a meeting today with the director of the Kosovo Agency for Accreditation (AKA), has promised continued full support for the transparency and institutional independence of the AKA.

He said on this occasion that the US Embassy fully supports the transparency and institutional independence of the Kosovo Agency for Accreditation.

The “The work of this institution is vital for higher education in Kosovo, while any political interference in AKA's work is unacceptable”, Nayler has said.

While AKA Director Naim Gashi said that with the decision of the State Council of Quality (KSHC), the process of accrediting research programmes has now begun.

He has said he welcomes the recent financing of the US Embassy's project, which addresses the environmental needs of the Agency for Returning Membership to the European Quality Security Association at Higher Education (ENQA), but also for strengthening our institutional capacities.

Even though in pandemic times, when the whole world was almost isolated, to help institutions of higher education, the academic community and students, with the engagement of international experts, we have achieved a very successful distance assessment. So far we have completed the assessment of 14 institutions of higher education, while the results are expected by international experts, which are expected to be part of the decision-making at the State Council of Quality on 25 June and 26 June”, Gashi has said.

The AKA director has also said that with the capacities Kosovo possesses and with the support of the American Embassy and international friends, increased quality in education and the interconnection of the education system with the needs of the country will be promoted.