Prizren, 17 June 2026
The Acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, attended the graduation ceremony of 420 students at the University “Ukshin Hoti” in Prizren.
In his address, Acting Prime Minister Kurti said that “every time we come to Prizren, we are reminded of the League of Prizren of 10 June 1878, one of the fundamental events of our national history. Just a few days ago we marked its 148th anniversary. And today, we are once again in this city, at the graduation ceremony of 420 students from the University “Ukshin Hoti”, as we also commemorate the 83rd anniversary of the birth of Professor Ukshin Hoti”.
After noting that out of about four thousand active students at the University “Ukshin Hoti”, approximately 70% are girls and women, he spoke about their role in democratic state-building and social progress. “When a young woman enters the labour market, it is not only her life that changes; the direction of society changes, and the future of the country improves,” he added.
“As a government, we are paying special attention to the internationalization of academic capacities. We are pleased that professionals and academics from our Albanian diaspora are returning to provide their professional experience to our higher education institutions,” said Acting Prime Minister Kurti.
The Prime Minister also stated that the next mandate will be one of transformation and restructuring of higher education.
“Develop yourselves by believing, by daring and by working continuously. Your government will continue to be your partner on the path toward new successes and your aspirations,” was the message of Acting Prime Minister Kurti to the graduates.
Full speech of Acting Prime Minister Kurti:
Honourable Rector of the University “Ukshin Hoti”, Professor Mentor Alishani,
Dear host, thank you very much for the invitation to be part of this joyful occasion for your university and beyond,
Honourable Ministers of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, Andin Hoti, Minister of Labor, Family and Liberation War Values, and Hajrulla Çeku, Minister of Education and Science,
Honourable Ambassador of Turkey to Kosovo, Mr. Sabri Tunç Angılı,
Honourable Family of Professor Ukshin Hoti, dear Brisilda,
Honourable Members of the Governing Board,
Honourable Professors, Students,
Dear Families of the Nation’s Martyrs,
Honourable Invalids and Veterans of the Kosovo Liberation Army,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Honourable Guests,
Every time we come to Prizren, we are reminded of the League of Prizren of 10 June 1878, one of the fundamental events of our national history. Just a few days ago we marked its 148th anniversary. And today, we are once again in this city, at the graduation ceremony of 420 students from the University “Ukshin Hoti”, as we also commemorate the 83rd anniversary of the birth of Professor Ukshin Hoti. The name that your university bears also carries the weight of history, the precious heritage of knowledge, science and national commitment. Also, five days ago we celebrated the 27th anniversary of the liberation of Kosovo.
These dates remind us that by honouring our history, we build the future.
Dear participants, events such as today’s ceremony fill our hearts with joy and motivate us to continue our work. The University “Ukshin Hoti”, with about four thousand active students, of whom approximately 70% are girls and women, reminds us of and demonstrates the role they continue to play in democratic state-building and social progress. When a young woman enters the labour market, it is not only her life that changes; the direction of society changes, and the future of the country improve.
Inspired by this great interest among girls and women studying here in Prizren, today we also remember the women who laid the foundations of Albanian education in Kosovo. When we talk about our educational roots, we proudly remember our Prizren, the place where Marta Mazreku, Tereza Çoba, and the Mikelangjela Sisters, made a great contribution to the first girls’ school in Prizren. We also honour the teacher and historian Mati Logoreci from Shkodra, and Lazër Lumezi, who laid the first foundations of Albanian education in Prizren. This bright heritage obliges us today to increasingly raise the culture of reading, the passion for science, and the quality of education.
University “Ukshin Hoti” has a special role in Kosovo’s higher education system. As the only public university that offers study programs in the languages of non-majority communities, in Turkish and Bosnian, as well as programs in English and German, it undoubtedly represents an open and contemporary model of education, of which we are all proud.
As a government, we are paying special attention to the internationalization of academic capacities. We are pleased that professionals and academics from our Albanian diaspora are returning to provide their professional experience to our higher education institutions. International experience reaches its greatest value when it is transformed into local development. The facilities that the University “Ukshin Hoti” has within its university campus, such as the Austrian, French, and Italian corners, serve as bridges for interaction and cultural exchange. These opportunities should certainly be expanded for the benefit of both students and academic staff.
Since the beginning of our governance, we have invested in creating new opportunities for young people. A good example of investment is the Innovation and Training Park or ITP, as it is commonly known by its popular acronym. This investment, worth 8 million euros, includes around 40 hectares of green space and 50 buildings dedicated for an innovation ecosystem. We are pleased that the university has established its Centre for Knowledge and Technology Transfer within the facilities of the ITP. This contributes directly to the university’s cooperation with the private sector, scientific development, the innovation ecosystem and the promotion of entrepreneurship. Our young people should make use of these opportunities to develop both their academic and professional potential.
Last week, I participated in the graduation ceremony of students at the public university “Haxhi Zeka” in Peja. There, I shared two important commitments for our next mandate, which I would also like to present to you today here in Prizren. The next mandate will be one of transformation and restructuring of higher education. Universities must develop clear academic profiles, funding must be increasingly based on performance, study programs must be closely linked to the country’s development priorities and market needs, while a diploma must lead to career and professional advancement.
Another priority commitment will be to create additional opportunities for our professors. Through the restructuring of the science fund and support for university institutes, we will expand opportunities for engagement in scientific research, international projects and professional services, making the university even more competitive and attractive for academic staff.
Dear parents and esteemed professors,
Today is a day of pride for you as much as it is for these students who are graduating. Behind every student stands the support, trust, and dedication of their families, as well as the tireless work of professors who share their academic experience, encourage critical thinking, and help shape the professionals of tomorrow. This success is the result of a shared journey. On one side are the parents, the greatest supporters of their children, and on the other side are the professors, their academic guides. On behalf of everyone, I express my sincere gratitude for your dedication in shaping this new generation, which today is ready to make its own contribution to our state and society.
Dear students, as you embark on a new chapter in your lives, today you are better prepared to participate in the progress of your country. From education and knowledge, to economic growth and entrepreneurship; from preserving and promoting language, literature, and culture, to strengthening the rule of law and democratic institutions; from digital advancement and transformation, to environmental protection and sustainable development-you are the generation that will enrich and transform these skills into professionalism and vision. You will further develop Prizren, Kosovo, and our society as a whole.
Therefore, always keep close to your heart the university and the city that helped shape you. Here remain the roots of your academic formation and your dreams. I wish you further success in your professional and personal journeys. Today you mark an important achievement, while tomorrow new horizons await you.
Develop yourselves by believing, by daring and by working continuously. Your government will continue to be your partner on the path toward new successes and your aspirations.
Congratulations on your graduation, and I wish you endless success! Thank you.
