How Kosovo is Training the Software Developers of Tomorrow
Prof. Dr. Edmond Hajrizi is the Rector and Founder of International College for Business and Technology UBT SHPK (Kolegji Ndërkombëtar për Biznes dhe Teknologji), Kosovo’s leading private university in business and technology. Founded in 2001, UBT has grown into one of the region’s most dynamic higher education institutions, consistently investing in cutting-edge infrastructure, international partnerships, and applied learning. With decades of experience at the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship, and education, Hajrizi has been one of the driving forces behind Kosovo’s digital transformation and a firm believer that vocational training is where that transformation must begin.
A Skills Gap That Could No Longer Be Ignored
When Prof. Hajrizi and his team launched the initiative “Developing Software Developer Skills by Integrating Artificial Intelligence” in mid-2023, they were responding to an urgent reality.
“Kosovo was facing a paradox. The ICT sector was booming globally, and local companies were hungry for talent — but too many of our young people were leaving the country to find opportunities elsewhere. We needed to create something that could change that equation.”
The programme, financed through the Regional Challenge Fund (RCF) with support from BMZ/KfW and the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), set out to build an NQF Level 5 dual VET programme that would genuinely bridge the gap between academic education and the realities of modern software development — with Artificial Intelligence at its core.
The Dual Model: Learning by Doing, Together with Industry
At the heart of the initiative is a dual VET structure: 70% academic learning at UBT, combined with 30% practical, enterprise-based training at partner companies Quantix, ALT, and the Innovation and Training Park (ITP) Prizren. Three cohorts of trainees — 80 young people in total — completed the programme, gaining hands-on experience in AI-integrated software development, cloud computing, and digital tools.
“The partnership with Quantix and ALT was not just logistical. These companies co-designed the curriculum with us. They told us what they actually need from a developer in 2024 — not what a textbook from five years ago might suggest.”
The results were tangible: 18 of the 80 trainees were directly hired by partner enterprises upon completing the programme.
Building the Classrooms of the Future
One of the most visible aspects of the initiative was investment in infrastructure. UBT built state-of-the-art AI servers, Smart City labs, VR/AR labs, and integrated cloud access platforms — creating learning environments that mirror real-world industry conditions.
“We believe the classroom has to feel like the future. If a student spends three years learning in an environment that is a generation behind what they will encounter in the workplace, we are setting them up to struggle.”
But infrastructure alone is not enough. The programme also invested heavily in its educators — 28 teachers and in-company trainers were upskilled in AI platforms, modern pedagogical approaches, and occupational health and safety. Crucially, academic trainers and enterprise trainers were brought together in joint sessions, building a shared language and mutual understanding.
“We called it ‘Classroom 3.0.’ It is not about replacing traditional teaching — it is about evolving it, so that educators are confident guides through a landscape that is changing faster than ever.”
Matching National Priorities with Real Learner Needs
The programme was designed from the outset to support Kosovo’s broader national and digital strategy. It directly contributes to Kosovo’s Digital Agenda 2030 and the e-Government Strategy 2023–2027, preparing a digitally skilled workforce capable of driving public and private sector innovation alike.
It also speaks to the country’s SDG commitments — particularly SDG4 (quality education), SDG8 (decent work and economic growth), SDG9 (industry and innovation), and SDG17 (partnerships for the goals).
“We are not training software developers in a vacuum. Every graduate is a contribution to Kosovo’s future — to reducing brain drain, to growing a local ICT ecosystem, to making our country more competitive in the European digital space.”
The initiative’s inclusive dimension is also notable: efforts were made to recruit women and minorities into the programme, addressing long-standing gender gaps in the technology sector.
What Other VET Providers Can Learn
Asked what advice he would offer to VET institutions across the Western Balkans seeking to modernise their offer, Hajrizi is direct:
“Stop treating industry as a recipient of your graduates and start treating it as a co-author of your programmes. That shift in mindset changes everything.”
He also calls for patience with infrastructure investment:
“You cannot teach AI on outdated equipment, any more than you can teach surgery with plastic tools. Governments and funders need to understand that infrastructure in VET is not a luxury — it is a prerequisite.”
And on the question of sustainability:
“We have created a virtual alumni platform so that our graduates stay connected — with each other, with our trainers, with the companies. Learning does not stop at graduation. That network is one of the most valuable things we built.”
Looking Ahead
UBT plans to institutionalise the programme as a permanent NQF Level 5 qualification, expand to new cohorts, and deepen its enterprise partnerships across the Western Balkans region. The consortium model — bringing together academia, private ICT companies, and innovation parks — is intended to serve as a replicable blueprint for dual VET in the digital sector.
“This is not a pilot project that ends when the funding runs out. It is the beginning of a new standard for how Kosovo — and the region — trains its technology talent.”
International College for Business and Technology UBT SHPK (Kolegji Ndërkombëtar për Biznes dhe Teknologji) is a Net4VET partner operating under the Regional Challenge Fund in the Western Balkans.
Learn more at www.ubt-uni.net