Prizren, 21 December, 2023
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, visited the city of Prizren today, where he participated in the inauguration ceremony of the Faculty of Education and Philology within the University of Prizren, “Ukshin Hoti”.
Alongside the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister for Minority Affairs and Human Rights, Emilija Rexhepi, the Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Arbërie Nagavci and her Deputy Minister Taulant Kelmendi, MPs Arbër Rexhaj and Artan Abrashi, the Rector of the University, were present at this event of Prizren, Mentor Alishani and other participants from the academic and administrative staff.
The investment in this building, which used to be the Higher Pedagogical School, amounts to half a million euros.
In his speech during this ceremony, the prime minister said that after these investments, with new infrastructure, with the new electrical network, with the new fiber optic internet network, with the new classrooms and professors’ rooms, I wish that this faculty to be filled with new energy and a new work atmosphere, study and lecture.
The University of Prizren is named after the professor of philosophy and prominent activist originally from the city of Prizren, Ukshin Hoti, who was disappeared by the Serbian police from Dubrava Prison on May 16, 1999, but his political spirit, articulated both in written text and in work and action, is best fixed in the very name of the University of Prizren.
While thanking all those who participated in this important event, Prime Minister Kurti at the end of his speech wished many successes to those present, and especially to the students, who, as he emphasized, have the right will and energy to fill it with life student the renovated building.
Prime Minister Kurti’s complete speech:
Dear students and professors,
Dear Mr. Emilija Rexhepi, Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, for Minorities and Human Rights Affairs,
Dear Mr. Arbërie Nagavci, Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation,
Dear Mr. Mentor Alishani, Rector of the University of Prizren,
Dear members of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo,
Dear members of the academic and administrative staff,
Dear and esteemed participants,
Ladies and gentleman,
Every time it is a pleasure to come to Prizren and return to this cultural, historical but also science and civilization city from time to time. All the more that this is happening in the last ten days of this year, when all the institutions and each of us, make their annual balances of work and achievements. Therefore, I came here today with great desire, together with the Minister of Education, and with the Deputy Prime Minister, Rexhepi, to see the good work that is being done here, with you, for you on the special occasion of the renovation of the building of Faculty of Education and Philology.
Inherited from what used to be the Higher Pedagogical School (HPS), I learned that there had been no investment in this building since the 70s until now, that is half a century of lack of investment. And now we are inaugurating the renovated one, after an investment of around half a million euros. After these investments, with this new infrastructure, with the new electrical network, with the new fiber optic internet network, with the new classrooms and professors, and with new, continuous energy in this university, I wish for this faculty to continue and raise the new atmosphere of work, study and discourse.
The University of Prizren, that is, your university and this one of ours that has brought us together here today, bears the name: University of Prizren “Ukshin Hoti”. The name of the professor of philosophy and the prominent activist originally from these parts, Ukshin Hoti, who we really do not have among us physically anymore since May 16, 1999, when the Serbian police disappeared him from Dubrava Prison, but his spirit his political, patriotic, articulated both in written text and in work and action, we have it best fixed in the very name of the University of Prizren. Because the university is the space where both the particular and the universal come together and where everyone can be included in the whole, seeking his role in society and contributing to the public sphere of professional development. In the rarity of the production of pure theoretical political thought, followed by practices of activism and commitment, cases and figures like that of Ukshin Hoti are really the right ones to follow. And in order to study and lecture, to search and write, to debate, to be informed, and to be shaped, in addition to epistemological conditions, some physical conditions are also necessary, such as those that we inaugurated here today, like this building with all of you and us, with all that it has inside.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank in particular the rector of the University of Prizren “Ukshin Hoti”, Mentor Alishan and to all of you students, I encourage you to learn and study as much as possible because socio-economic development and state and national progress depends so much on these days when you you study, you do scientific research and in this way you build a bright and sustainable future in our country.
Congratulations on the renovated building and the will and energy to fill it with student life. Best wishes!
Thank you and happy New Year holidays at the same time!
Last modified: December 22, 2023