Peja, June 10, 2025
Good afternoon, everyone,
It is a special pleasure and a great honor that today, on June 10—when we commemorate the day of the Albanian League of Prizren—I, together with my colleagues from the Government, come from Prizren to Peja, to the League of Besa-Besë, and to the University that bears the name “Haxhi Zeka.”
Throughout my public engagement—not only as a political activist and party leader but also as a member of parliament and Prime Minister—I’ve always felt more like a student and less like a professor. Perhaps that’s why I feel a special sensitivity for your day today, when you are no longer students—meaning you are now more than students, and unlike me, perhaps many of you will even become professors.
Dear Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade, Ms. Rozeta Hajdari,
Honorable Rector, Professor Armand Krasniqi,
Esteemed Minister of Local Government Administration, Elbert Krasniqi, and Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Taulant Kelmendi,
Distinguished Commander of the KFOR Regional Command, Colonel Francesco Errico,
Respected members of the Steering Council,
Dear directors and assembly members of the Municipality of Peja,
Honorable academic and administrative staff,
Dear graduates of “Haxhi Zeka” University,
Today is a special day—a triumphant moment and a festive date for you, for your families, for the academic and administrative staff of the university, and for all of us gathered here to congratulate you on your graduation and future successes.
Graduation is a feeling of pride mixed with nostalgia for everything you’ve experienced during this period: friendships, challenges, lessons—not only in lectures and exams but also from the joyful moments of student life.
Today, you receive your university diploma, marking a new position in society—one that comes with duties and responsibilities.
“Haxhi Zeka” University, where you are graduating from, is an institution that continues to grow and develop. In the last three years, it has expanded its academic programs, increasing the number of accredited programs from 14 to 18, including bachelor’s and master’s degrees, as well as a PhD program currently in the accreditation process. This growth reflects our shared commitment to providing quality education that meets the needs of society and the labor market.
In addition, the university has established five new centers: the Institute for Science and Arts, the Office for Scientific Research, the Business Support Center, the Center for Excellence, and the Center for Peace and Human Rights.
These centers enrich the academic offer, highlight the university’s role in social development, and promote universal values. Investments in infrastructure are also a vital part of your university’s growth.
Between 2021 and 2025, the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation has made capital investments of €7.7 million at “Haxhi Zeka” University in Peja. This includes the construction of a new building for the Faculty of Business and Tourism, Hospitality Management, and Environment, covering 8,000 m² and valued at approximately €4.3 million. This building, to be completed by the end of 2025, will improve teaching conditions and ensure better access for all students, including those with disabilities.
Also, in May of this year, an agreement was signed to begin construction of the Business Incubator, in which the Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade will invest €3.2 million. Construction begins this year and will be completed by 2027. The Business Incubator will be a space for new opportunities for the youth of the Dukagjini Region to create innovative enterprises that connect business with modern technologies, tourism, and art.
The successes of your university are not limited to internal development. “Haxhi Zeka” University has improved its international ranking on the Webometrics platform by 2,118 positions between 2019 and 2024. This growth is the result of the academic staff’s dedication to maintaining high standards in research and education, and by utilizing the Ministry of Education’s scientific project support programs.
As graduates of this university, you are now part of a community that bears the responsibility of advancing our society and country—by contributing in business, tourism, agribusiness, law, and the arts. This is only the beginning of a new chapter for each of you, and I wish that your journeys ahead are led by passion and integrity.
As someone who has been a student activist, I know the power you hold to improve and advance our country, our institutions, your city, your community, and people’s daily lives. Use your education to follow your dreams, stay true to your values, and contribute to a strong and developed Kosovo and a powerful Albanian nation.
On behalf of the Government of Kosovo, I wish you further success in your journey ahead. Remember, your diploma is a foundation upon which you can build great things—not only for yourselves, but also for your families, your communities, and our country.
And finally, let me share a little-known fact with you: just like you studied and are graduating in Peja, I studied in Pristina—but just like you, I also graduated in Peja. Because the professor under whose supervision I completed my thesis was based in Peja, and to defend my diploma thesis, I had to come from Pristina to Peja. That professor’s name is Edmond Beqiri.
Thank you, Professor Edmond—we never would have imagined back in April 2003 that we would be here together in June 2025, but how wonderful that it turned out this way.
Thank you for your attention—and congratulations and best wishes to all of you!
