Faculty of Education at the University of Prishtina, has kick off the Kosovo International Conference for Educational Research, with the theme "Developing Education Research and Practice in a Competence-Based Oriented Education System" being addressed this year.

This conference aims to offer new scientific knowledge and practices to improve the quality of education in Kosovo. 

Attendance at this conference were vice-rector  for research, projects, innovation and information, Sefer Avdiaj, dean of the Faculty of Education, Blerim Saqipi, vice-dean of the Faculty of Education for educational issues, Blerta Perolli Shehu, advisor to the minister of the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Arrita Gola, professor Erik Ryen from Metropolitan University in Oslo, Norway, professor Armend Tahirsylaj, Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway, scientific panel which assessed student presentations, students, and stakeholders.

In her opening remarks, the vice-dean of the Faculty of Education for educational issues, Perolli- Shehu, emphasized the significance of the event. This conference, now in its third year, features more than seventy (70) presentations, a symposium, and a round table discussion, which primarily act as mediators in this process based on the role of the teacher in competence-oriented educational systems.

The adviser to the minister in the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ms. Gola, who was present at the conference's opening, recognized the significance of this conference as an annual conference organized by the Faculty of Education that covers a variety of education development-related topics.

Vice-rector Avdiaj focused on the significance of this conference in collaboration with numerous educational actors, including Kosovo and other countries to be included in discussions on the issues addressed within the work of this conference. Vice-rector Avdiaj has a strong commitment to the importance of collaboration and educational advancement, which opens up new paths with a clear bearing on education. Finally, the vice rector expressed his appreciation for the conference's success in forging future collaboration as he put an end to his remarks.

In his speech, Blerim Saqipi, dean of the Faculty of Education, spoke about the purpose of this conference, which encourages contact and targets other efforts with the goal of enhancing higher education.

On the first day of this conference, two presentations were given by academics from Norwegian universities. Professor. Eric Ryen lectured on "Tendencies and challenges in Norwegian teacher education and curriculum." Professor Ryen introduced the didactic tradition and teaching as a process of interpreting the meaning of content in his lecture. In addition, shifts in the Norwegian curriculum, from "content" to "competency" focused curricula. Then there was the technological development, from the 'industrial society' to the 'knowledge society,' as well as the interaction that occurred from content to competence in Norway between 1997, 2006, and 2020.

Professor Armend Tahirsylaj, Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences, delivered a presentation on "Competence-based curricula between policy visions and implementation challenges - international trends and local lessons." Professor Tahirsylaj offered two curriculum models: "Content-based curricula" (disciplinary knowledge) and "Competence-based curricula" (acquired learning outcomes / particular competencies). Professor Tahirsylaj also discussed the contrasts between input-based and result-based schooling. Continuing the evolution of Competency Based Curricula (CBC) as a development strategy in Europe, conditions for successful implementation, challenges and lessons learned from its implementation in Kosovo, current global education trends, alignment of curriculum reforms in Kosovo with European/global trends, and future visions.

The conference will resume its work tomorrow, June 10, 2023, with additional presentations and symposium.