Intertwining Training and Schooling through Common Curriculum Development

The project “Intertwining Training and Schooling through Common Curriculum Development” seeks to establish a sustainable dual education model in nursing by integrating academic learning with structured, high-quality practical training in Kosovo. Led by Kolegji Heimerer in cooperation with six healthcare enterprises and an international partner, the initiative responds to critical skill gaps and the need for better alignment between nursing education and the realities of clinical practice.

The project addresses the limitations of the current education system by systematically combining schooling and practice. All practical modules of the Bachelor in Nursing will be reviewed, upgraded, and aligned with the evolving needs of healthcare providers. Eight existing modules will be updated, and four new specialisation curricula will be developed in emergency care, wound treatment, anaesthetic assistance, and surgical assistance—areas identified as priority gaps by consortium partners.

To ensure quality, external expertise will be engaged for curriculum development and staff training. Both VTI lecturers and enterprise mentors will receive methodological training, ensuring that students are guided by well-prepared supervisors in both academic and clinical settings. Enterprises will provide internship placements, with the aim of all nursing students per cohort completing meaningful mentored practice across the six partner institutions. Uniquely for Kosovo, enterprises will also remunerate interns, further motivating student engagement and responsibility.

Technology will play a central role. The project will establish a shared IT platform to monitor student progress, host digital teaching content, and facilitate hybrid learning.
The inclusion of VAMED Kipfenberg (Germany) strengthens international knowledge transfer. Kosovar students will have opportunities to train in Germany, exposing them to advanced clinical standards and professional work ethics, with benefits flowing back to the local health system.

The project is designed to create a virtuous cycle: students gain stronger skills and employment opportunities; enterprises secure a pipeline of qualified staff tailored to their needs; and the VTI increases the relevance, quality, and attractiveness of its programmes. Beyond direct beneficiaries, the model is scalable, offering a pathway to raising nursing education and healthcare quality across Kosovo.

The project will focus on modernising curricula, training both academic staff and enterprise mentors, and investing in specialised teaching equipment, digital infrastructure, and improved learning facilities. These efforts will significantly boost the employability of nursing graduates, strengthen the overall healthcare workforce, and establish a pioneering dual education model in Kosovo’s health sector—one that can also be replicated across other vocational fields.