On the occasion of the 49th anniversary of the establishment of “Hasan Prishtina” University in Prishtina on February 15, 2019, was held the conference of rectors of Albanian public universities titled “Albanian Higher Education and Facing the Future”. At this conference was also present the Rector of the University of Tetova, Prof. Dr. Vullnet Ameti, who together with the rectors of Albanian public universities signed a joint declaration, through which they agreed on many issues in the interest of the universities.
The Declaration envisages the increasing of the autonomy of university management by expanding the academic freedom of staff and students to contribute to the advancement of university knowledge production practices, quality assurance systems, with a view to improving services for students, enhancing accountability to them and involvement of students in all areas of decision-making, starting from curriculum building up to managerial decision-making. As a very important point, investments in time, energy and finance have been envisaged in order to meet the technological challenges of the time, intensifying and optimizing cooperation between Albanian universities to strengthen scientific forums.
Particular importance has been given to cooperation with relevant governments to create a special fund for exchange of students and academic staff between Albanian public universities. It is foreseen to be required to increase the budget for higher education on a continuous and reasonable basis and to diversify university revenues by making a better liaison with economies in line with relevant profiles in order to increase the capacity for international cooperation in relevant projects and all this will base university work on the highest moral, ethical and civic values and responsibility, promoting and cultivating equality, non-discrimination and respect for diversity in society by applying the principles of equality transparency, inclusiveness and access.
Rector of the University of Tetova, Prof. Dr. Vullnet Ameti, assessed that this declaration will serve the universities as an opportunity to face many challenges. “In spite of the challenges and difficulties faced by universities, I think they carry out their mission, are at the height of their duty, through education and science, to contribute to the nation’s overall development and progress. It is precisely these centers of knowledge where the academic elite of the European and pro-Western future are formed. It is up to us, the leaders of Albanian public universities, to work continuously in the fulfillment of the objectives, for the purpose of developing and advancing the national education, the unification of the higher education system according to European norms, the unification of programs, the equivalence of university diplomas, exchange experiences, student education staff, and other forms of cooperation of common interest. The University I represent is oriented towards European and Western values, involved in many international associations, has the experience to fulfill the commitments arising from the Declaration of Rectors of Albanian Public Universities and at the same time express our support for all the points envisaged by this document are as important and as necessary for the furthering of the teaching process – said the Rector of the University of Tetova Prof. Dr. Vullnet Ameti.
After the rectors’ conference, the Rector of the University of Tetova, Prof. Dr. Vullnet Ameti also attended the solemn ceremony held in honor of the 49th anniversary of the establishment of the “Hasan Prishtina” University in Prishtina
On this occasion, besides the leaders of the University of Prishtina, a speech on behalf of the rectors of the Albanian universities also held the Rector of the University of Tetova, Prof. Dr. Vullnet Ameti. He said that from the day of establishment until today, the University of Prishtina has become a symbol of resistance in the temple that for half a century kept alive the national inspiration for freedom, democracy and independence. “We Albanians had a difficult past, but the truth is that our universities made us free more than anything else. It were our universities that faced the most severe dictatorships, it were our universities that led Albanians in freedom and dignity. It was the University of Prishtina, in which the flame of freedom, even when it was barely visible in other Albanian lands, shone, illuminated as a lantern the future of the Albanian nation.
On this occasion, I remind you that the University of Tetova, founded in 1994, was the crowning of the joint efforts, the strong commitment of Albanian intellectuals from Tetovo, Prishtina and Tirana to lay the foundations of higher education in Albanian language in the Republic of Macedonia, in those countries with educational and patriotic traditions, where nowhere else in the world, education in the mother tongue, especially university education for decades was forbidden. Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, our students, teachers and all the employees of the University of Tetova convey the thanks and deep gratitude for your institution, which together with the University of Tirana, supported us on the most difficult moments until today, when we function as partners and cooperate as serious contemporary universities. Education has the main role in the development of nations, cultural and historical values, and today we bend with respect, in honor of all those who with their efforts realized the establishment of this temple whose mission is education, social emancipation, economic development and strengthening of the Republic of Kosovo. Praised be the leaders, professors and students of the University of Prishtina, who have maintained and have advanced this university as one of our nation’s most precious treasures” – said the Rector of UT, Prof. Dr. Vullnet Ameti.
In the end of his speech, Rector, Prof. Dr. Vullnet Ameti said that this month for all Albanians presents the month of pride, because on February 15th we celebrate the 49th anniversary of the University of Prishtina, on February 17th the University of Tetova marks the 24th anniversary of the first lectures but above all Albanians wherever they live and work will celebrate on February 17th the 11th anniversary of the declaration of Kosovo’s independence, the newest state in the world that has already made significant progress, which knew how to face with wisdom, dignity the vision many vital challenges, difficult challenges that did not shake at any moment the confidence of the people of Kosovo to live in dignity and in full harmony with the international community.