The National Doctoral School in Information and Communication Technology was inaugurated today on the premises of the University of Prishtina. In this ceremony, the following were present: the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Mr. Albin Kurti, government representatives and diplomatic missions in the country, the rector of UP, prof. dr. Qerim Qerimi, rectors of partner universities, professors, and students.

The UP rector, prof. dr. Qerim Qerimi opened the ceremony. "Our university has played a decisive role in the realization of this school and we are excited to host and coordinate it for the next two years", said the rector at the beginning of his speech. He added that he hopes this school will catalyze innovation, collaboration, and further impact in the field of ICT, both in Kosovo and beyond, encouraging our students to embrace this opportunity with enthusiasm, curiosity, and dedication.

On the other hand, the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Mr. Kurti said that this project brings the necessary cooperation between prestigious European universities and universities in our country. "This school, which we are inaugurating today, is an important block in building the progress we aim for. This program helps in the development of innovative ideas, which have the potential to create new products, businesses, and professions, which help this country make the necessary transformation", noted Prime Minister Kurti.

The inauguration of the ICT school in Kosovo was also greeted by the ambassador of Norway, his excellency, Mr. Jens Erik Grondahl, as well as the representative from the Swedish embassy in Kosovo, Mrs. Katja Holboll.

The Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Mrs. Edona Maloku-Berdyna, and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs. Liza Gashi both emphasized the ministries' commitment to building capacities in the field of technology and communication.

Meanwhile, rectors and representatives of partner universities in this project, prof. Peter Aronsson from Linnaeus University, prof. Samedin Krabaj, from the University of Prizren, prof. Edmond Hajrizi from UBT College, Mr. Nikos Zaharis, director at the South East European Research Center, and Mr. Mohamed Abomhara, representative of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, highlighted their commitment to the establishment of this school and also emphasized their readiness for further advancement of its mission.

At the end of the ceremony, Christina Keller from the Swedish School of Management and IT and Anita Mirijamdotter, coordinator of the PhDITKES project, presented to the audience the entire journey of the project and the results achieved during the process that led to the launching of the school.

The ceremony was closed by Professor Drilon Bunjaku, at the same time director of the ICT School in Kosovo. He revealed the objectives of this school, which, among others, include raising and developing the capacities of higher education institutions in ICT; facilitating and creating human capacities for linking higher education with industry; organization of scientific activities for doctoral students, internationalization of scientific work, and other purposes.

The school was established within the project "Development and Implementation of an ICT program for the Education System in Kosovo - PhDITKES", part of Erasmus+ Key Action 2.