Minister of Education, Enver Hoxhaj visits.

On a more serious note, the International Business College Mitrovica was pleased to host Minister of Education, Enver Hoxhaj, at our premises in the South of Mitrovica in the last week of July. He was accompanied by Mayor Avni Kastrati and a number of high ranking officials.

It was Mr. Hoxhaj's first visit to our institution and he was keen to learn about preparations for the new semester. Discussions ranged widely and included questions relating to the ethic mix of the new intake, co-operation with the Lillebaelt Academy of Higher Professional Education as well as an outline of plans for the building of permanent accommodation for the International Business College Mitrovica.

Mr. Enver Hoxhaj (top left) and Paul Sudnik in conversation at the International Business College Mitovica.

Source: ©Paul Sudnik - 28th July 2010

Long Summer Lay Off!

It has been a long summer and just a quick post to get the new academic year off to an explosive start I thought I would include a photo from the end of last semester.  Student humour - but it got a lot of laughs...

Student humour at the International Business College Mitovica!

Source: ©Paul Sudnik - 9th July 2010

Working with external stakeholders

Crucial to my understanding of the curriculum is a strategy of successful cooperation with stakeholders from outside the immediate ambit of the International Business College Mitrovica.  With this in mind we organised, during the month of June, two curriculum development workshops and invited external stakeholders to see first hand what we are doing - with a view to offering suggestions on how we might improve.  It was expected that the workshops would provide an opportunity for external input into ideas of what our students learn whilst leading to an understanding of the overall learning outcomes that potential employers expect of our institution.

The first event focused on our Business Studies activities and we were lucky that Martin Lauth, a former head of Tietgen Business School, was able to attend and share his experience of transforming that Danish institution through a radical approach to teaching entrepreneurship.

Martin Lauth explores the possibilities for entrepreneurship at the International Business College Mitovica

Source: ©Paul Sudnik - 10th June 2010

I was very pleased that, after the formal presentations, the plenary session saw active and engaged contributions from participants.  It became clear that local businesses support the idea of professional education in Mitrovica and that they really are looking for highly trained graduates to employ in their businesses.  Most important was the fact that several participants did not hesitate to promise placements for internships for students of the International Business College Mitrovica.  Of course, the idea of practical experience is at the heart of our experiential learning curriculum and so internship places are always at a premium.

In time honoured fashion, after a very successful day of intensive discussion on the future of professional higher education, participants all repaired to a local hostelry to reflect on the day's activities!

After a hard days deliberations at the International Business College Mitovica, workshop participants reflect upon the outcomes!

Source: ©Paul Sudnik - 10th June 2010

Forum for cities in transition conference held in Mitrovica

Forgive me, but once again there has been an awful lot going on at the International Business College Mitrovica and I have fallen behind in my posting.

I wanted to mention the conference that was recently held in Mitrovica.  Organised by the Forum for Cities in Transition between the 24th and 28th of May, the conference brought together people, primarily members of local government, from divided cities around the world.

Publicity poster for the conference

Source: ©Paul Sudnik - 28h May 2010

As you can read from the poster, there were representatives from Belfast, Nicosia and Jerusalem at the conference - but not only; I also met some councilors from Kirkuk in Iraq during one of the sessions.  I will not go into the conference programme or its outcomes, these are not subjects for this blog, but I will mention the fact that the International Business College Mitrovica was delighted to host conference participants for an inauguration ceremony at the site of one of our proposed new buildings.

Site of International Business College Mitrovica building in the  north of the town

Source: ©Paul Sudnik - 27h May 2010

 

Guests were welcomed by Momcilo Arlov of the Centre for Civil Society Development in Mitrovica who very kindly talked about his hopes for the International Business College Mitrovica before unveiling an architect model of the building planned for the north of the town.  You can just see the model, covered with a sheet, in the bottom left hand corner of this photograph which was taken before the unveiling!

Momcilo Arlov welcomes guests to the site of the International Business College Mitovica

Source: ©Paul Sudnik - 27h May 2010

 

 

Guests discuss the plans for the International Business College Mitrovica

Source: ©Paul Sudnik - 27h May 2010

  

It was a very pleasant evening and I felt that the participants were pleased and impressed by what they saw of our institution.  Now we just have to start the construction work!

Update on Sunday's elections in north Mitrovica

Sunday's elections did not go off completely peacefully as this video illustrates - there is clearly a long way to go yet in settling the differences that still exist in Mitrovica - I continue to hope that the International Business College Mitrovica can make a contribution to the achievement of peace and reconciliation.

Election in North Mitrovica

For the last few weeks North Mitrovica has been in the midst of a campaign surrounding local elections organised by the Serbian government.  All the activity culminated with voting held on Sunday 30th May, with polling stations open to 20.00 CET.

The election has been branded "illegal" by Mr. Avdi Kastrati, President of the municipality of Mitrovica and Mr Pieter Feith, EU special representative for Kosovo, has said that the outcome will not be recognised by the Union.

Pieter Feith - European Union Special Representative

Source: FotoNet Archive

Despite the controversy surrounding the elections emanating from Prishtina, there are thirteen lists of candidates on the ballot paper and campaigning has been vigorous.  The NATO peacekeeping mission, KFOR, has offered protection to all peaceful protesters and has said that it will take "all necessary measures" against all violent actions.

Participants in the inaugural conference of the Forum for Cities in Transition, held between 24th and 28th of May in Mitrovica, found themselves having to make an unexpected detour around a noisy campaign meeting, where police held an armed man, as they made their way from one event to another on Tuesday evening.  At the International Business College Mitrovica we have kept to our timetable and have kept up teaching thoughout the campaign period.

Election campaign posters in north Mitrovica

Source: ©Paul Sudnik - 28h May 2010

Recruitment Publicity Campaign

As the battle to recruit students for October 2010 hots up among the various providers of higher education, so May becomes the month when they come out onto the streets (the providers, not the students!).

At the International Business College Mitrovica, we have planned a campaign that includes TV and radio advertisements, open days (to be held on 29th May as well as the11th and 12th June) and a series of visits to schools where we have made presentations about the programmes we have on offer.

 

International Business College Mitrovica billboard in Prishtina

Source: ©Paul Sudnik - 17h May 2010

As can be seen from this billboard, our campaign is visible and I am pleased to say seems to be having some impact.  We have noticed an increase in interest and registrations since the campaign got to full speed and there is still more to come!