Presentation of findings "Feasibility Study - Establishment of graduate studies in public safety and security sector in Kosovo Academy for Public Safety"

Prishtina, 20 January 2016 – Today in Pristina in "Villa Gërmia" was a presentation of the findings, "Feasibility Study - Establishment of graduate studies in public safety and security sector in Kosovo Academy for Public Safety", by the expert of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo Klaus Welter.


The meeting was attended by Director General of KAPS Ismail Smakiqi, Acting / Director of Department of Order and Security in the OSCE Vesna Vujovic Ristovska, Director of the Department of Higher Education in MEST Drita Kadriu, Head of Department for European Integration at the Ministry of Finance Rexhep Vasolli, Deputy Director of the Kosovo Police Dejan Jankovic, Dean of the Faculty of Public Safety Bejtush Gashi, student of FPS led by Zijavere Rexhepi Keçmezi - President of the student Council at FPS Shpresa Muharremi National Advisor of the OSCE, Rafael Nievergelt  representatives of EC, leaders,  Resident Advisor and experts of the Twinning Project ,representatives by the all PSA in Kosovo, leading staff, teachers and other senior officials of KAPS


Director Smakiqi, at the opening of the meeting by welcoming the participants said that the "Feasibility Study, i.e. the possibility of establishing postgraduate studies in public safety and security sector in KAPS, except that opens the prospects of development of capacities in the public safety sector , proves timely developments so far in the Academy.  Further Smakiqi continued saying that, "All of us present in this meeting, in our common path to the establishment of the Academy, especially in these last five years, representatives of the Government of Kosovo - relevant ministries, Agencies of Public Safety,  Kosovo Academy for public safety, the international partner OSCE, ICITAP, the European Commission, have worked with dedication to public safety, namely capacity building of law enforcement employees in PSA. Our next challenge will be the establishment of graduate studies in public safety and first response whether it is possible we will receive today by the expert Welter as a result of the study that he made for two months.


In the following has a speech the Acting / Director of Department of Order and Security in the OSCE, Vesna Vujovic Ristovska, she said that the OSCE will continue to support the Academy in capacities building,  always will be coordinated with the activities supported by other local and international strategic partners.

"Thanks to close cooperation with the EU Office in Kosovo and KAPS, was prepared a feasibility study for the scientific degree of Master in the field of public order and public security, in order to determine further career development of senior staff in the law enforcement, "said Ristovska.


In the following, Welter presented a feasibility study on which occasion offered research results. He said that for data collection are used group discussions, questionnaires or surveys, a short SWOT analysis, analysis of documents and roundtables

 Welter expressed enthusiasm of the people he met saying; "Almost all interviewees were excited about the proposed study program. Stakeholders as KAPS and APS felt that was right time for this proposed study program by considering a better understanding of the important chain between the accredited program  Bachelor in Public Safety and forthcoming study program  Master at the same field. Therefore, the proposed study program Master presents a wonderful opportunity for career development of senior officers of law enforcement. "


By the large number of interviewees, students of the Faculty of Public Safety,   from 145 readable surveys, 93.8% (136) want to see in the future a postgraduate offer.

In the chapter "Feasibility", Welter responds with yes to the establishment of postgraduate studies in public safety in KAPS; while in Chapter recommendations, Welter counted nine recommendations supplement of which would help and enable the establishment of postgraduate studies. At the end Welter expressing comparison with "slogan" of partisan of German handball representative “If not now, When then" encouraged the Academy and other institutions of Kosovo to create postgraduate research program for students in the field of public safety.


While the Director of the Department of Higher Education at the Ministry of Education Drita Kadriu congratulated Academy for all the achievements made so far. "I express my gratitude, to you Director Smakiqi and Academy, on behalf of the Ministry and I congratulate you that you are fulfilling the mission since 2012 and feasibility study in the Master program that continuing education and creates a  strong and open mind  cadre for Public Safety Agencies , said Kadriu.


Rexhep Vasolli considering that the process of education in the field of security is progressing as planned said that financial aspect is very important issue for any project intended to be completed successfully. The need of capacity building is needed, especially in the field of public safety and we as a ministry support this process - said Vasolli.


Deputy Director of the Kosovo Police Dejan Jankovic thanked OSCE KAPS who initiated the Master program in Kosovo. He also thanked the expert Welter for his research and hope that this study will be very important for public safety agencies.


Dean of the Faculty of Public Safety in the Academy, Bejtush Gashi said that for students respectively the employees in the Public Safety Agencies a Master program is very important. Bachelor study program is now stable, while master program except that will be important for agencies will be important also for future capacities of the Faculty of Public Safety.


Mrs. Krista Hak, second twinning project leader  thanked expert Welter  for a great job in the Feasibility Study with the aim of establishing postgraduate studies at the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety.


Fatos Haziri, professor at the Faculty of Public Safety thanked Welter for research and   said that this report will serve as a good guide for our goal of establishing postgraduate studies at the Academy. I believe that we will succeed.


Most grateful in the meeting was student Zijavere Rexhepi Keçmezi, President of the Student Council at FP.S "I am very happy for the program presented by Welter expressing that the students eagerly awaiting this master study program, which will help us in our personal and agencies progress where we working. So we believe in the Academy in achieving this very important goal that has to do directly with public safety in our country, "conclude her speech student Keçmezi.