The Kosovo Accreditation Agency (KAA) has successfully achieved re-registration in the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR), with its inclusion being valid until December 31, 2029.  This followed a rigorous evaluation by an independent panel of experts from the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA).  The formal approval was confirmed in an official letter from EQAR's President, Mr. Stéphane Lauwick, to the KAA Director General, Mr. Naim Gashi.  This achievement is the culmination of a determined, multi-year process that began with developing a roadmap in 2020, becoming an affiliate member of ENQA in 2022, and receiving a positive on-site evaluation in July 2024.

Registration in EQAR, the highest European body for quality assurance agency registration, represents a major national success and a monumental achievement for Kosovo’s higher education system.  It signifies international recognition that KAA operates in full alignment with the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance (ESG), boosting the credibility and trustworthiness of Kosovar diplomas.  Consequently, degrees obtained by Kosovar students now enjoy guaranteed international validity and recognition across Europe and beyond, providing assurance to both employers and academic institutions.  Furthermore, this status grants higher education institutions in Kosovo full access to European Union educational programs, enhanced funding opportunities, and international partnerships.

The KAA’s path to EQAR registration has been marked by a period of exclusion due to political interference.  In a decision made on February 28, 2018, the EQAR Committee excluded the KAA because a ministerial decision to dismiss the Board had compromised the agency's independence, violating the crucial ESG standard 3.3 which mandates that an agency must be able to act without influence from third parties.  Following this dismissal, EQAR determined the KAA could no longer take "full responsibility for its actions."  The successful re-registration in July 2025 reverses this exclusion, demonstrating KAA's restored institutional independence and dedication to European standards.  This makes Kosovo the first country in the Western Balkans to achieve this renewed recognition, confirming its alignment with EU quality benchmarks.

More about the re-registration below:

• Kosovo Accreditation Agency Successfully Registered in EQAR – Agjencia e Kosovës për Akreditim