Higher Education in Kosovo: Major Changes, Reforms and Development Trends at University of Prishtina and University of Mitrovica and their role in peapeace building and reconciliation during post-conflict period
Education system in Kosovo went through tremendous and courageous developments since June 1999, when conflict in Kosovo ended. Although Higher Education experienced essential reforms, there are pro et contra arguments whether substantial or superficial reforms took place during this past eight-year period of time. The reform process is underway, but it will take more time until it delivers a quality product, i.e. skilful and competitive students for the open market and an environment which is free of disagreements of the past and where peace building reconciliation are deeply rooted in the society. As the push for reform came from international stakeholders, local players still strive for ownership of the process as a way to drive it further. Steps have been made, but results are yet to be seen.
Medical Education in Kosova
Background: Kosova, the poorest country in Europe, is an example of the challenges posed by higher education in the developing world. The last 10 years have represented a period of significant reform within both the health care and education systems in Kosova. Aim: This article provides an overview of all levels of the higher medical education in Kosova, with particular emphasis on main issues and challenges. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. Data were collected through review of medical curriculum, student selection, licensure, continuing medical education (CME) and interviews with stakeholders in Medical School and Ministry of Health. Results: Medical education in Kosova is categorised in three levels: undergraduate, postgraduate and CME. Kosova has a short tradition of medical education and has had a turbulent history in higher education during the last two decades. Starting in the academic year 2001/2002, the University of Prishtina adopted the Bologna system, although officially Kosova is not yet a member of Bologna Process. Conclusion: Quality assurance and quality control measures are considered core elements in future modernisation of medical education in Kosova. Bologna Declaration provides an opportunity for improvement of current weaknesses in medical education system.
Letting Women in? Gender Mainstreaming in Regional Policies
Gender mainstreaming has over the last ten years become the dominant strategy of integrating gender issues in public policy. This article presents regional policy as a broad and increasingly important policy field to study, and analyses gender mainstreaming in this policy field in the Norwegian and the Swedish contexts. How do problem representations surrounding “gender equality” and “gender mainstreaming” produce meanings of gender as well as construct possibilities for change? The article shows that, despite some differences between the two countries, gender mainstreaming in regional policy can to a large extent be read as meaning “women”. Women are in this context given a narrow subject position and are constructed as lacking what it takes to produce sustainable regional growth. The concluding discussion highlights the relations between the implementation of gender mainstreaming and neo‐liberal political trends.