The Use of Case Studies in Teaching in Kosovo

 

Currently, I am involved in the EUFORIA project (Entrepreneurial Universities for Industry Alliances) 

which aims to establish and develop links between universities and enterprises in Kosovo in order to enhance teaching and learning, upgrade the curricula in line with the needs of enterprises and improve the financial sustainability of the country’s HEIs.  An integral part of the project is the preparation of case studies based on Kosovar companies for use in teaching business oriented subjects in Kosovo universities.  Staff from the 6 partner universities in Kosovo (Universities of Gjakova, Gjilan, Peja, Prishtina, Ferizaj and Riinvest College) attended a Work-shop run by Prof Marina Dabić and Prof Jurica Pavičić (University of Zagreb) on 6-8 June 2016 in Prishtina and I am looking forward to running three follow up workshops in Kosovo in the last week of October.

Kosovo Education Strategy 2017-2021

I was very pleased to see a continuing commitment to both quality of education and to improving the quality of management in the education system within the Kosovo Education Strategic Plan 2017-2021.  This document is a welcome development of a strategy outlined for the previous 5 year period ...and as this planning period opens, one sees many changes in the educational landscape of Kosovo particularly around the International Business College Mitrovica - about which more in future posts.

Opening of IBCM Building in the North of the Ibar

We are very happy to have inaugurated our brand new building in the north of Mitrovica.  After a renovation that went very speedily, the International Business College Mitrovica is ready to start teaching on 27th September on both sides of the Ibar river.

The building is completely renovated and has three class rooms and seminar space, which are all equipped with Wi-Fi, as well as administrative offices.

The International Business College Mitovica building in the north of the town

Source: ©Paul Sudnik - 12th July 2010

  

It was pleasing to see a large group of potential students come and look at the premises and to hear about the IBCM study programme.

Prospective students at the inauguration of the International Business College Mitovica building north of the Ibar river

Source: ©Paul Sudnik - 20th July 2010

Student Recuitment

As the clock ticks down to the start of teaching on 27th September, the International Business College Mitrovica is doing a lot of what should be "last minute" recruitment.  Sadly, our experience is that many students are only just now thinking about what, where and how to study.

Whilst this is pretty late in the day, we are finding that a series of coffee afternoons for small groups is helping people form a view on their tertiary education ambitions.  Participants for these intimate, highly focused events are drawn from the networks of existing students or from the people who have made a preliminary enquiry with us but never followed up with an application.

The most recent of these events was held in the Strpce enclave and we were pleased to be able to inform an enthusiastic group about our work.

Students at an informal gathering learning about the new academic year programme at the International Business College Mitrovica

Source: ©Paul Sudnik - 10th June 2010

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

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!

SPACE man visits the International Business College Mitrovica

The International Business College Mitrovica has become an Associate Member of the SPACE network of more than 90 tertiary institutions which are active in the fields of business and language education.  The organisation spans both "old" and "new" Europe and gives the International Business College Mitrovica a window on the world that provides access to a broad and deep pool of experts in the fields of both business and professional education.

We were very pleased to host Dr. Piotr Marek Jaworski in Mitrovica last week.  Dr Jaworski is pictured below with the IBCM management group at our weekly management meeting.

Dr Piotr Marek Jaworski (back row - far right) pictured with the management group of the International Business College Mitrovica 

Source: ©Paul Sudnik - 21st May 2010

Piotr is a lecturer at The Business School of Edinburgh Napier University and has been lecturing in Britain since 2003: first at UCL and then at Birkback College.  Before, he worked in Poland at the Warsaw School of Economics and at the Ministry of Finance where he served as an adviser to the Minister involved in the negotiations on Polish accession to the European Union.

During his stay with us, Piotr was able to give two lectures to our students, who impressed him with their questions, and to "sit in" on a lecture in European Studies, which gave him another opportunity to interact with our students and to contribute to discussion from a perspective beyond Mitrovica.

More from Denmark

It was certainly a strange sensation to walk into the senior common room at the Lillebaelt Academy of Professional Higher Education in Odense last week and find a whole notice board dedicated to our partnership!  Photographs, articles, maps - in fact everything you would need to know to be fully briefed on cooperation with the International Business College Mitrovica.

It was pleasing to see that the project is causing so much interest among Lillebaelt staff in Denmark - so pleasing in fact that I could not resist taking a photo of Regitze, from the Academy, and Nina, from the IBCM, in front of pictures that are every day sights for us in Mitrovica!

Regitze and Nina at the SCR noticeboard of Lillebaelt Academy of Professional Higher Education

Source: ©Paul Sudnik - 10th May 2010

 

Thank you Regitze, Rasmus and everyone else who was involved in our very successful visit to Odense last week.  See you in Week 23 when you are back in Mitrovica to teach!!

Timetabling in Denmark

Once again events have made me fall behind plan in terms of posting!  This week I have been in Denmark visiting our partner institution in Odense.

In recent months in Mitrovica we have been focused on fine tuning the academic content of the programmes that we are teaching at the International Business College Mitrovica - but as we begin to think about the intake for October 2010 so it has become imperative for us to consider administrative systems.  It was with this in mind that we visited our colleagues at the Lillebaelt Academy of Professional Higher Education.

We spent a significant part of our time reviewing the timetabling methodology that is used in Denmark.  They too have a puzzling timetabling algorithm to resolve every semester because of the complexity of their teaching timetable.  When you consider that at the IBCM we run two buildings and have a staff from both north and south of Mitrovica (some of whom are part-time employees) then the parameters of our own timetabling problem become clear!

It was also good to talk about day to day administrative matters with those involved in the project at the Danish end - all in all we had an intensive and productive visit and it was good to take the opportunity to relax whenever it presented itself - as the below picture shows!

Nina and Rasmus enjoy lunch in the student canteen of the Lillebaelt Academy of Professional Higher Education

Source: ©Paul Sudnik - 10th May 2010

Public recognition for the IBCM

On the wall of my office there now hangs, in pride of place, a certificate awarded to the International Business College Mitrovica for the best customer service at the recent education fair in Prishtina (see my post of 10th April).

Everyone worked very hard to make the fair a success but I think that our team went above and beyond the call of duty - as the judges recognied.  It was noticeable that everyone who worked on the stand was highly motivated and, most importantly, that they smiled a lot and were not shy when talking to visitors.  Working on a stand at a fair is tough work but it is worth it when it is recognised by such a prestigious award such as this!

Arbenita, Valon and Ardita admire the framed certificate earned by their effort!

Source: ©Paul Sudnik - 4th May 2010

Missing from the photo is Ivica who was already visiting some more schools in the region, where he was meeting and informing more potential students about the International Business College Mitrovica!

Thanks to you all and well done!

Information Event in Prizren

Some fifty final year high school pupils attended an information event held at Gjimnazi Gjon Buzuku in Prizren, Kosovo on 14th April.  They were able to discuss entrance requirements, curriculum choices and ECTS details of the diplomas and degrees on offer at the International Business College Mitrovica.  They were also informed about the wide range of scholarships that are available.

  

Paul Sudnik, Director of the IBCM, with some potential students from Prizren

Source: ©Paul Sudnik - 14th April 2010

In addition to handing out prospectuses and answering questions, Paul Sudnik also provided a practical demonstration of how teaching methods at the International Business College Mitrovica aim to promote group activities and "out of the box" thinking.  First, participants took part in an activitiy aimed at illustrating how teams and groups confer leadership depending on the task at hand.  Later they had some fun making paper aeroplanes and competing as individuals against the whole group for prizes that included a bottle of Coke and a bar of chocolate - there is no doubt that there are some competitive people in Prizren!

Potential students meet Paul Sudnik, Director of the IBCM, in Prizren and have some fun together!

Source: ©Paul Sudnik - 14th April 2010

The students had many questions about studying in English - but it was clear that those who are serious about applying to the International Business College Mitrovica already have a strong foundation in the language from which to work.  Dr Sudnik made clear that each week, throughout their time at the IBCM, they would have three English lessons of ninety minutes duration.  It is expected that all students will take the Cambridge First Certificate examination at the end of their first year.

More Scholarships for the IBCM

As the recruitment season heats up, so interest in the International Business College Mitrovica continues to increase amongst local authorities as well as representatives of industry.  On 12th April, the Mayor of Vranje, a town in Southern Serbia with a population of some 55,000, declared that his office will sponsor a student from the town at the IBCM.  His offer was matched by Iwana Stosic, the Director of the Business Incubator Centre Vranje, and the joint announcement was made at a press conference at the offices of Yumco A.D. - a significant employer in the town and a manufacturer of textile goods.

Mr Miroljub Stojcic, Mayor of Vranje, with Ms Iwana Stosic, Director of the Business Incubator Centre Vranje, announce two scholarships for the IBCM - as representatives of Yumco A.D. look on together with Paul Sudnik, Director of the IBCM.

Source: ©Paul Sudnik - 12th April 2010

This is excellent news for the IBCM since, as well as Yumco A.D., a number of manufacturing companies are located in Vranje and graduates of the International Business College Mitrovica will be uniquely placed to implement their practical professional knowledge with these firms - both during mandatory internship periods and eventually as potential employees.  Vranje also has a large Roma population who are a core recruitment target for the IBCM.

The historical association of the town with the process of wealth creation goes back to the time when it was an important Ottoman trading centre.  This history is reflected in the architecture and general atmosphere of the town - which to this day boasts an excellent restaurant in a building that housed a harem until as recently as 1912!

 

A view of Vranje in the early 20th Century and the historical land mark White Bridge.

Source: ©Google Images - 16th  April 2010

Support of the Minister of Education for the IBCM

The International Business College Mitrovica is receiving significant encouragement from important political quarters in both Albanian and Serbian communities of Kosovo. This is manifesting itself in a number of meetings in support of our activities.

Most recently, on the 2nd April 2010, the Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Mr Enver Hoxhaj, invited the directors of high schools across the country to a briefing about the IBCM which, unusually, was held in the building of the Ministry itelf as an indication of governmental commitment to the project.

Mr Enver Hoxhaj, Minister of Education, Science and Technology of the Republic of Kosovo, and Dr. Paul Sudnik, Director of the IBCM, meet high school directors from across Kosovo

Source: ©Valentina Qarri - 2nd April 2010

The Minister spoke at length about the transformation of tertiary education in Kosovo and his hope that the IBCM model of international quality professional higher education would lead the way in the evolution of post secondary education in Kosovo.  He made clear that the 2 year diploma and 3 year degree offered by the International Business College Mitrovica is crucial to the job prospects of young people in Kosovo.

Following a presentation of the IBCM by Paul Sudnik, and a lengthy question and answer session, the Minister closed the meeting by suggesting that representatives of the IBCM visit all high schools around Kosovo to ensure that pupils are well informed about the educational possibilities offered by the IBCM.  He was reassured that such meetings would take place at convenient times in all schools before the matura examinations in June. 

Prishtina Education Fair

Pupils from around Kosovo had the opportunity to get information on institutions of tertiary education at the Prishtina Education Fair that took place from 31st March to 2nd April 2010.  Naturally, the International Business College Mitrovica had a prominent stand and we were able to talk to over one thousand individual visitors over the three days, each of whom was eager to get a prospectus and application form.

Dr. Paul Sudnik, Director of the IBCM, and Valentina Quarri, Head of Office for Spark in Prishtina, open the International Business College Mitrovica Stand at the Prishtina Education Fair

Source: ©Suad Selimi - 31st March 2010

Apart from the IBCM stand, visitors were able to get to know the possibilities offered by the American University Kosovo, Kolegji Victory Prishtina and American College University amongst others. We were delighted that so many young people felt it important to visit the fair so as to be to make informed decisions about their future education.  They were helped in this by the International Business College Mitrovica team who were able to answer most of the questions that came up.

The enthusiastic information team at the International Business College Mitrovica Stand at the Prishtina Education Fair

Source: ©Paul Sudnik - 31st March 2010

I myself was present for two of the three days of the fair and must say that I was impressed by the enthusiasm and questions that were asked by the visitors.

Toplica Region provides scholarships for IBCM

Although the International Business College Mitrovica (IBCM) is located in a district that is teaming with young people, our catchment area encompasses not only this town but the surrounding region, both north and south of the river Ibar as well as the Serbian enclaves of Kosovo and South Serbia itself.  This geographical and cultural spread provides us with something of a challenge when publicising the activities of the IBCM and the opportunities that it offers.

We try to maintain good relationships with local government authorities in all the places that our students come from and we have particularly good links with the region of Toplice in South Serbia and the regional commissioner, Mr Srdan Jordacijevic.  We were very pleased when he agreed to make a scholarship available for an IBCM student resident in the region.

The selection will be made in late June and will be based on an essay competition in which candidates are asked to explain how studying at the IBCM will allow them to return and contribute to the economic regeneration of their home town.

To mark the occassion I participated in a press conference with Mr. Jordacijevic on 25th March and was pleased that journalists from the four main Serbian newspapers were present together with a crew from the local television station.  The resultant news report (in Serbian) can be seen below:

Politics to the fore.

 Source: ©Paul Sudnik - 24th March 2010

Tensions in the divided city of Mitrovica run at around medium to high most of the time - but are not always evident as one goes about one's day to day business.  Indeed, for most of the period that I have been here (5 months at the time of writing) "you wouldn't know if you didn't know" how bad things have been in the past.

However, last week there was a major rally in the North (Serbian) part of the town against the so called integration strategy which the Prishtina government is apparently going to try to implement, against the will of the Serbian community, but with the support of the International Civilian Office (whose purpose is to provide international support for a European future for Kosovo).

As ever, things are complicated and almost illegible for the uninitiated (which includes me for the most part, I must say) but on the principle that a picture tells a thousand words, I thought that some illustrations of what was for the most part a peaceful rally might give a flavour of the Mitrovica environment in which the International Business College Mitrovica is developing.

 Source: ©Paul Sudnik - 24th March 2010

After arriving at the main road junction that passes for the main square in the North of Mitrovica (the original, and truly, main square being to the south of the river Ibar that divides Mitrovica) the marchers gathered round a tribune for some powerful speeches that denounced not only the integration plan but also the eleven week long Nato bombing of Serbia in 1999, which the BBC confirms was the largest military operation ever undertaken by NATO and the first time it had used force agains a sovereign state without UN approval.  I will admit that although I felt safe at the rally I did not feel entirely welcome and was quite happy when the demonstrators finally moved off again to complete their protest.

Source: ©Paul Sudnik - 24th March 2010

As far as the future of the integration plan for Mitrovica is concerned - we shall see, but it might be worth recalling the bombing that, eleven years later, is clearly still a festering sore in the psychy of many Serbs.

Source: Google Image Search "Bombing of Serbia" - 29th March 2010

Getting Started

In common with many bloggers whose work I have followed over the years, I am reticent about starting on this venture! How long will I keep it up? Can I have anything interesting to say? My involvement in an exciting education project since November 2009 has finally made me decide to take the leap!

So much has happened in the intervening five months that it would be a shame not to record the progress of the International Business College Mitrovica (IBCM) in words and pictures. So, I hope to use this blog to record the evolution of the project as well as my own reflections on tertiary education in post conflict environments. Perhaps this remit will change as time goes on - but that is my thinking as I start on this blogging adventure.