The University of Prishtina, in cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Kosovo and the United States–Kosovo Educational Exchange Board (USKEB), held the special event “The United States Semiquincentennial: 250 Years as a Beacon of Democracy for the World” on Friday, July 10, 2026.

Organized at the Rectorate of the University of Prishtina as part of the Prishtina International Summer University – PISU 2026, the event commemorated the 250th anniversary of the United States and highlighted the strong partnership between the United States and Kosovo, as well as the importance of democracy, education, and international exchange.

Opening remarks were delivered by Prof. Arben Hajrullahu, Rector of the University of Prishtina; H.E. Albin Kurti, Acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo; H.E. Wylita Bell, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kosovo; and Audrey Coleman, Director of the Bob Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas, who addressed the participants through a recorded video message.

The programme included two panel discussions. The first panel, “The United States Semiquincentennial: 250 Years as a Beacon of Democracy for the World,” featured Avni Spahiu, the first Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo to the United States; Asst. Prof. Luljeta Plakolli-Kasumi, a professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Prishtina, a USKEB Board member, and an alumna of the University of Pittsburgh; and Dr. Melanie Schoeffner, a professor of reflective education and author from James Madison University in the United States. Moderated by Ilir Hajra, a Fulbright alumnus, the panel explored the history of American democracy, its global influence, and the importance of relations between the United States and Kosovo.

The second panel, “Exchange & Impact Roundtable,” was moderated by Gjeni Shporta and Nora Nimani Musa from USKEB. Alongside alumni of U.S.–Kosovo exchange programmes, American professors and students participating in PISU, and representatives of Kosovo’s academic community, the discussion also included Prof. Arben Hajrullahu, Rector of the University of Prishtina  and the Deputy Minister of Educationand Science Përparim Kryeziu. The panel highlighted the role of educational exchange in strengthening international partnerships, promoting mutual understanding, and building lasting connections between institutions and communities.

The programme concluded with a reception, offering participants an opportunity to exchange ideas and explore new forms of academic and professional cooperation.