EU Ambassador Visits Construction Site of New EU-Funded Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
The EU Ambassador in Kosovo, Tomáš Szunyog, visited the construction site of the new Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences of the University of Pristina today, accompanied by representatives from the University, UNOPS, and Young European Ambassadors. This state-of-the-art facility, funded by a EUR 8.9 million grant from the EU, demonstrates the EU’s commitment to improving education and enhancing research capacities in Kosovo.
European Union in Kosovo, 2024
“Last February, I was here for the groundbreaking ceremony of this ambitious EU-funded project. Today, I am thrilled to see the progress in the construction works. The EU’s investment in this project is not just about building infrastructure; it is about building a brighter, knowledge-based future for Kosovo. By improving quality standards in higher education, we are proudly supporting the next generation of Kosovo’s scientists and researchers,” said Ambassador Szunyog.
Once finished, the new building will serve over 2,300 students and 133 staff members across five departments: mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and geography. Besides the EU's funding, the University of Pristina is providing an additional EUR 5 million for furniture and lab equipment to ensure the facility meets modern educational and research needs.
European Union in Kosovo, 2024
With a total investment of EUR 85 million in Kosovo’s education system from 2007 to 2022, the EU is the largest provider of financial assistance in Kosovo. These investments are intended to improve opportunities for students and teachers, bring Kosovo’s education system up to EU standards, and stimulate economic development and job creation.
The EU’s support for education in Kosovo goes far beyond just building infrastructure. It includes strategic planning, technology upgrades, and scholarship programs at European universities, such as the Young Cell Scheme. This scheme offers young Kosovars scholarships to study at EU Member State universities, with the opportunity to later pursue careers in civil service and contribute to the reform of public administration in Kosovo. To date, 409 students have benefited from these scholarships.
The EU also supports education, training, youth and sport in Europe, and promotes international mobility through ERASMUS+. From 2015 to 2023, Kosovo's higher education institutions saw 9,656 staff and student exchanges, both incoming and outgoing.
Additionally, the EU-funded KOSED project undertook a comprehensive review of Albanian language and mathematics textbooks for compulsory education last year, aiming to enhance the quality of pre-university education. With support from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the EU has so far supported more than 100 schools in completing or beginning the process of an improved internal school evaluation, whereas over a thousand teachers across Kosovo have received practical training to enhance their professional development.
European Union in Kosovo, 2024
Through these projects, the EU is committed to contributing to a higher quality and more inclusive education system in Kosovo.