The Official Launch of the KosLift Project

On Wednesday, December 12, in the premises of RIT Kosovo (A.U.K), IPKO Foundation and RIT Kosovo (A.U.K) officially launched the KosLift project which is supported by the Norwegian Embassy in Republic of Kosovo.

KosLift, is a 30-month investment, which will support up to 1000 students from the University of Pristine, RIT Kosovo (A.U.K), and 60 Kosovar businesses from the sectors of energy, Information Technology and manufacturing with the adequate skills and capacities to increase competitiveness in the business sector in Kosovo and the region.

Mrs. Abetare Gojani - Program Director at IPKO Foundation

The launching ceremony was opened by the Program Director of IPKO Foundation, Mrs. Abetare Goojani expressing her gratitude to the attendees. She reminisce the times when she was a RIT Kosovo (A.U.K) student and shared with the audience her experience of field research, by emphasizing the importance of theory application that were taught in schools. “Focusing on these objectives, the KosLift project will equip these students with the necessary skills to be successful and to create a better connection between businesses and students”, she said.

E. Mr. Per Strand Sjaastad - Ambassador of Norway in the Republic Kosovo

The Norwegian Ambassador in Republic of Kosovo, Mr. Per Strand Sjaastad addressed the audience stressing the importance of the ICT sector and promised that the support for this sector is and will remain one of the priorities of the Norwegian Embassy in Republic of Kosovo. The Norwegian Embassy during the last decade has supported the ICT sector with more than 14 million Euros focusing in offering training, startups and job creation. “I believe Kosovo has a very good chance to succeed in the ICT area. It has a young population with energy and innovation skills. However, the biggest challenge for the moment is perhaps lack of skilled labor and access to finance. The KosLift project, implemented by IPKO foundation and RIT Kosovo (A.U.K), is another step in the right direction” he said.

Mr. Marjan Dema - “Hasan Prishtina” University Dean

One of the main supporters of Kos Lift is also the University of Pristina. The Dean, Mr. Marian Dema, emphasized the willingness of the University of Pristina for close collaboration with IPKO Foundation and RIT Kosovo (A.U.K), since this project will help students to professionally grow through various programs that KosLift will implement.

Mr. Jasiqi shared with the participants the importance of the R&D Lab and referred that coupled with appropriate human capital, investment in R&D will help elevate the products and services that drive growth, create jobs, and improve countries welfare.

“The objective R&D Lab in RIT Kosovo (A.U.K) is to  increase the competitiveness of local businesses in Kosovo by increasing the quality and quantity of the products and services they offer through the increased cooperation within the knowledge triangle between students and faculty, the firm and the joint projects in applied research and development, all supported by the necessary lab environment.

The R&D Lab will act as a student-focused “maker space” creating a workspace where students from any discipline can create products based on their innovative concepts. Based on research we have identified three areas, that will be part of the driver of the business sector growth, and KosLift will focus on these three sectors:

1. ICT
2. Energy
3. Manufacturing sector

The audience was also addressed by Jehona Gjurgjeala, Board Member in RIT Kosovo (A.U.K), emphasizing, in particular, the effect of “connection” this project aims to create. “The thing that excites me about this project is that it connects students from University of Prishtina with students from RIT Kosovo (A.U.K). It is going to connect students with businesses also,” she added.

Ardi Ponosheci, Project Manager of KosLift, presented in detail the plan and objectives of the project.

Among others, present in the Official launch were: Representatives of the Ministry of Trade and Industry in Kosovo,Ministry of Innovation and Technology, Ministry of Economic Development, representatives of American Chamber of Commerce, USAID and USAID Empower Private Sector, Kosovo ICT Association, Kosovo Manufacturing Club,Metal Industry and Renewable Energy Cluster of Kosovo, representatives of businesses and organizations, and students. 1000 students will be trained in both project management and human centered design theory and practice with significant opportunities to apply what they’ve learned to real life challenges facing businesses in Kosovo. Through design challenges, ‘intrapreneurships’, faculty-led consulting engagements and Design Fairs every student will be prepared to apply for and compete for jobs.

The three objectives of KosLIFT are:

1. improve the competitiveness of Kosovo’s private sector in Energy, ICTs and Manufacturing,
2. enhance the competitiveness of Kosovo’s young workforce in said sectors, and
3. establish an inclusive, gender-equal and sustainable mechanism to identify and connect competitive students with practical and invaluable training, intrapreneurship and career opportunities

The official website along with the application form is open from today, through which students of the University of Prishtina and RIT Kosovo (A.U.K) can apply for the program. Apply Now!