As a follow-up from the Kick-Off Meeting, on 14 October 2024, the SHER team visited University ‘Isa Boletini’ in Mitrovica (UIBM) to present the programme and activities to Rector Ms. Nurten Deva and her staff.

Our Team Leader Mr. Aqim Emurli informed that SHER programme aims at contributing to a sustainable, evidence-based, needs-oriented and gender-responsive higher education and research sector in Kosovo that is in line with the principles of European Higher Education Area (EHEA), European Research Area (ERA), and respective Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s). Concretely, the focus of SHER will be the enhancement of the capacities of UIBM to prepare and implement the performance-based funding system – a bigger reform that is initiated by the Ministry of Education Science Technology and Innovation (MESTI). While doing so, SHER will support also the process of revision and upgrade of the university statute, strategic document, gender action plan and functionalizing of the university institutes.

Ms. Deva emphasized that support from the SHER programme is very appreciated at her current position as a new Rector and particularly for the UIBM. She welcomed the SHER activities and stated that they are in line with their needs and priorities.

In the end, teams of UIBM and SHER agreed to meet regularly to identify priority areas of cooperation and all this will be part of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for building sustainable partnership.