The Government approves the Development Plan for the University of Prizren

The decision for the establishment of the University of Prizren was taken by the Government on October 9^th 2009. Whereas, on February 12^th 2010, the Government instructed MEST to hire a consulting company for drafting the Development Plan for University of Prizren. For this purpose, MEST hired the german company CHE Consult. Consequently, in its 125^th meeting, the Government approved the Development Plan for University of Prizren. According to this plan, the first academic year in the University of Prizren must start on October 2010, with a number of students ranging from 3,000 to 5,000. The University is anticipated to be modern in infrastructure, course methodology and content, and research oriented.Initially, the university will start operating in the facilities of the Faculty for Education in Prizren, until the new facilities are build in the land assigned by the municipality. Since the University will start from scratch, it is recommended that it is named University College, whereas the Post-graduate College will be established in the years to come. This may result from the interpretation of the Law on Higher Education, which specifies that the term 'University' may only be given to an accredited holders of higher education, which has at least 3,000 regular students, which offers programs in at least 5 different faculties with at least 600 students per faculty. It is anticipated that the academic staff will be divided based on departments. Initially, it is recommened that the following departments are established:

• Department for language and translations;
• Department for Engineering and computer sciences;
• Department for governance and economy (law, economy, business management, political sciences);
• Department of Medical Sciences
• Department of arts, human and natural sciences (including mathematics).

The Development Plan also suggests the establishment of four additional Institutions in the following years, including the Institute for Information Technology (2011), the Institute for Governance and Economy (2011), Institute for Energy (2012) and Institute for Medical Research (2012).

The development plan also includes the required methods which are to be adopted by the University in order to ensure quality. It is expected that the Bologna System with three study cycles will be adopted, whereas the majority of bachelor programs are recommened to be four year programs, where at least one semester consists of practical work. Master studies are expected to be one or even two year programs with half norm. It is also suggested that the departments are headed by foreign managers who posses a Doctorate academic title. According to this Plan, the University of Prizren is recommended to find partners from Austria, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, United States or Italy, with the objective of loaning study programs and stuent exchanging activities.

During the month of June, the University of Prizren must select its rector, who will then select the academic staff. However, this development plan is not final, since according to the coordinator of University of Prizren within MEST, the rector reserves the right to interfere in the modification of this development plan.

On the same meeting, the Government approved the MEST request for the allocation of 2 milion euros for the 'University of Prizren' program. The table below provides further details regarding this allocated budget.

Meanwhile, according to budget forecasts for 2011 and 2012, a total of 5 milion euros will be allocated for the University of Prizren.