University of Iowa representatives will partner with officials at universities in Kosovo to strengthen ties between higher education and the private sector to improve students’ professional opportunities.
The efforts are part of a five-year, $4 million cooperative agreement from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to the University of Iowa, which is partnering with Iowa State University and the Kosova Education Center, a Prishtina-based educational training nonprofit, according to a press release.
The USAID-funded activity aims to improve how three public universities in Kosovo interact with agricultural and information and communication technology companies, leading to more industry-driven research and graduates who are better prepared for the workforce.
UI experts hope economic opportunities will increase for Kosovo youth by linking Kosovo’s private sector to its public universities and providing curricular and applied experiences.
Cassie Barnhardt, associate professor in the UI College of Education and principal investigator, who is leading the project from Iowa. She said the agreement will help “strengthen and add stability to one of the world’s youngest democracies.”
In Kosovo, 42% of the population is 24 years old or younger, while youth employment is approximately 30%.
Iowa State University experts will lead efforts to increase collaboration in the agricultural sector, including guidance on topics such as applied research, industry engagement, curriculum development, teaching methods and student services, says Curtis Youngs, the ISU professor leading the university’s involvement in the initiative.
“We are delighted to collaborate with scholars from the University of Iowa and Iowa State University to achieve our core objectives of strengthening cooperation with the private sector, increasing the number of internships, and improving the employability of our students,” said Armand Krasniqi, rector of the University of Peje “Haxhi Zeka,” one of the partnering universities, in a statement.
This initiative builds on decades of international cooperation between Kosovo and the state of Iowa. Established in 2013, the Iowa-Kosovo “sister state” connection created a foundation for partnerships across numerous sectors including military, security/safety, education, agriculture, commerce, youth/sports, arts and tourism.
In April, Kosovo’s ambassador vistied Des Moines for the first time, reported WeAreIowa.
“We are capitalizing on the existing relationships and growing new ones,” said Ms. Barnhardt. “The presence of the Republic of Kosovo Consulate in Des Moines has helped nurture relationships between companies, universities and the civil sector in Iowa and Kosovo.”
