On Monday, Prizren University “Ukshin Hoti” celebrated its 13th anniversary as the second state university in the country. The university organized a solemn ceremony attended by management, administrative staff, students, and other guests.

University Rector, Prof. Assoc. Dr. Mentor Alishani, emphasized in his speech that today, we are gathered to reflect on our joint path, the achievements and challenges we have faced, and our future purposes. “This University is a rich field of knowledge, a center where the mind and creativity meet to generate new knowledge and innovation. We are proud of all our students who have built their educational paths here and are prepared to be future leaders”, emphasized Rector Alishani. Meanwhile, he added that in the future, we have even greater opportunities to enhance the quality of education and contribute to our society’s development. “So, let’s work together with purpose and passion to build a better future and leave a lasting mark on the history of this university”, Rector Alishani advised. 

In the end, the Rector expressed his appreciation for all those who have contributed to making this university a success.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof. Assoc. Dr. Arif Murrja, emphasized that every day the University “Ukshin Hoti” works on enhancing the quality of teaching and scientific research. “We support the values of academic independence, intellectual honesty, and critical thinking. We believe that success can be achieved with talent and hard work. We also believe that it’s not individual success but a team success. We strongly believe that together, we will make this Institution of Higher Education a regional university”, highlighted Chairman Murrja. Furthermore, he expressed his belief that the investments made so far will continue to benefit the future, providing new vision and direction while enriching the values inherited by this University. “Within this framework, the gradual implementation of gained academic and managerial experiences, along with the work and efforts of the entire academic staff, will be a valuable addition to the creation of a professional and educational institution”, concluded Chairman of the University Governing Council, Prof. Assoc. Dr. Arif Murrja.

Speaking about the university’s history was Prof. Assoc. Dr. Xhafer Beqiraj, who serves as the dean of the Faculty of Philology.

Professor Beqiraj emphasized that even though the University “Ukshin Hoti” has been active for 13 years, it has managed to walk alongside the other universities in our country. Not coincidentally, it is widely considered the second university in the country. “We believe that the objectives of the strategic plan for the further development of the university will be achieved only through hard work, systematic engagement, cooperation, and seriousness, from the academic staff and administrative staff to the success of our students. We are aware that only in this way can we honor the name of our professor, Ukshin Hoti, whose name our university proudly carries. It is also the way we honor Prizren, our historical city, and this temple of knowledge in the Republic of Kosovo”, concluded Dean Beqiraj. 

The ceremony was moderated by Dr. Sc. Dorinë Rakaj, an academic staff member at the Faculty of Philology.

At the end of the ceremony, the Rector and the Chairman of the Governing Council awarded recognition certificates to the academic and administrative staff who have reached retirement age, as a sign of gratitude for their contributions to the development of the university.

The celebration ceremony of the 13th anniversary of the University ended with a rich artistic program, featuring classical music and folk dance. The Rector placed flowers on the statue of the intellectual and patriot Ukshin Hoti, whose name the University proudly bears