On 13 August 2025, the Sustainable Higher Education and Research in Kosovo (SHER) Programme and the Kosovo Research and Education Network (KREN) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking an important milestone in their cooperation to advance digitalization in Kosovo’s higher education sector.

The signing ceremony took place at the Innovation and Training Park (ITP) in Prizren – where KREN’s offices are located – and brought together representatives from SHER, KREN, and ITP. The event served as a platform to explore future opportunities for collaboration, identify potential synergies, and build on joint initiatives that support all public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Kosovo.

The MoU builds on ongoing cooperation at the University “Fehmi Agani” in Gjakova, where SHER and KREN have been working together to strengthen the digital competencies of academic and administrative staff. The partnership aims to further expand the use of digital solutions in teaching, research, and university administration, with the goal of improving efficiency, fostering innovation, and ensuring sustainable practices across the sector.

In his remarks, SHER’s Team Leader, Mr. Aqim Emurli, emphasized the Programme’s role in enabling universities to take full advantage of KREN’s digital learning platforms, research tools, and cloud-based services. He stressed the importance of providing tailored training materials and practical guidelines to ensure these tools are effectively integrated into institutional operations. On the other side, KREN’s Administrator, Mr. Atif Basani, reaffirmed the network’s commitment to delivering the necessary resources, expertise, and information to support the successful implementation of the planned activities.

The signing of this MoU marks the beginning of a closer working relationship between SHER and KREN. By combining their expertise and resources, they will work hand in hand to bring practical digital solutions to Kosovo’s universities, helping them improve the way they teach, conduct research, and manage day-to-day operations.

SHER is funded by the Austrian Development Agency, co-financed by MESTI, and implemented by WUS Austria, ZSI and OeAD.