Rector of the University of Tetova, Prof. Dr. Kushtrim Ahmeti, today participated in the opening of the panel discussion “Environment and Cultural Transformation”, organized by the Center for Balkan Cooperation “Loja” and the University of Tetova. In his speech in front of the experts and civil society representatives, the Rector of UT stated that the institution he leads attaches special importance to building a culture based on sustainable development. In this regard, he said that on April 22 at the University of Tetova was marked the World Earth Day, where several lectures were held, with the aim of raising awareness and reflecting on the importance and necessity of achieving a balance between economic, ecological, social and cultural dimensions. He also appealed that it is the responsibility of each one of us to inherit the planet where we live to the generations that will come after, in a better condition than our ancestors inherited it to us. “It is our duty as an educational-scientific institution to lead the way in the search for solutions to the great challenges of our time such as: loss of biodiversity, climate change, social inequality, etc. For this reason, we encourage the development of scientific research to make innovative discoveries and promote their application. Despite the great potential we possess, to overcome these challenges we need partners and support. Sustainable futures are built together. We have founded the Institute of Ecology and Technology as an educational-scientific institution, whose main activity is the education and training of ecology staff, with high standards and theoretical and practical training, who will be able to participate in the selection of problems in the field of ecology and protection of the living environment, as well as to contribute to the scientific research plan until raising the awareness of the population of our country and beyond”, declared the Rector, Prof. Dr. Kushtrim Ahmeti.
Also, he brought to the attention of the panelists and other participants that the University of Tetova was one of the first initiators to declare the Sharr Mountain as a National Park, and that through the Institute of Ecology and Technology a series of studies on natural resources have been carried out that offers, helping to draft the proposal-law for the declaration of a part of Sharr Mountain as a National Park.
“In addition to the educational infrastructure, which we are constantly committed to improve, we also give special emphasis to the creation of green spaces and their maintenance. For us, the park that surrounds the university campus is a point of pride, as one of the few green spaces in the “concrete forest” built by the human factor in the city. Let us also serve as an example to be followed by other institutions, for establishing a standard of the construction-greening ratio to respect the ecological balance. A small change, if turned into general practice, gives a big impact”, said the Rector of UT.
Part of the aforementioned panel was also Prof. Dr. Asan Idrizi, lecturer at the Faculty of Applied Sciences at the University of Tetova. He referred to “Human impact on environmental pollution and degradation”. According to him, the protection and advancement of the living environment in the contemporary world represents a global topic. “The space of the human living environment is increasingly narrowing, endangered and polluted, so it loses the basic parameters of the qualitative space. The more man has advanced in the transformation of the living environment, the more he has burdened our planet with various types of degradation. This requires a quick solution. Degradation of the living environment is not a new topic, but today the world is burdened by numerous global problems that directly affect the quality of the living environment”, said Prof. Dr. Asan Idrizi.
Professor Idrizi assessed that the various organizations that are made in relation to environmental problems and their impact on the environment are aimed at making people aware of the protection of the living environment; responsibility and care for public spaces and the main goal of protecting our common planet – the Earth. The aforementioned panel was held at Sunny Hill (Kodra e Diellit) and took place within the framework of the WATCH THROUGH Festival program, a cultural event that brings together writers and activists and aims to create a synergy that can promote positive changes in society and inspire others to act towards a better future with the perspective of European Integration.
