Minister Sefaj participated in the completion of the first component of the twinning project

Vushtrri, 09 November 2017 - At the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety (KAPS) today was held the "Visibility event  of vocational training curricula", where was evaluated the completion of the first component, related to "Contribution to a sustainable structure of professional training for all public security agencies in Kosovo".

Present were the Minister of Internal Affairs Flamur Sefaj, Director of the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety Mr. Ismail Smakiqi, Deputy Chief of Section of the European Union Cooperation Office in Kosovo Mr.Libor Chlad, Director of Department for Order and Security at OSCE Mr. Akhe Roghe, Senior MIA Executive Advisor from ICITAP, Mrs. Drita Perezic, Head of the Academy Board, Mr. Bajram Bujupi, Dean of the Faculty of Public Safety, Mr. Bejtush Gashi, Senior Leader of the Academy and the Public Safety Agencies, as well as the leaders and members of working groups of the first component of the project.

General Director of Kosovo Academy for Public Safety Ismail Smakiqi, by welcoming the participants, evaluated that the Twinning Project is being developed in the dynamics foreseen by the contract.
During the conference  where was discussed the completion of the first component, Smakiqi stated that, the achievements are a result of the joint work of the working groups of the Public Safety Agencies, the Academy and experts from Finland and Estonia.

"I am pleased to announce that the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety has applied to the National Qualifications Authority for the purpose of accreditation of the institution as well as the validation of vocational  programs of Public Safety Agencies, based on the criteria of authority. (always based on the National Qualifications Framework ie the European Framework of Qualifications). On 03 November 2017, the Governing Council of the National Qualifications Authority has approved the request of the Academy and in the coming days and months, we expect the accreditation process of the Academy for the Development of Vocational Programs ", stated Smakiqi.

Thanking the European Union office in Kosovo that through the twinning project is supporting the Academy, Smakiqi stated that the project last 21 months from three years that the project would be extended, which has cost 1.4 million euros and will employ 42 experts in fields of public safety from Finland and Estonia. Smakiqi stated that the purpose of the project is to support education at the professional and higher level, including research in the field of public security in Kosovo, which fully complies with EU and International standards.
Smakiqi also stated that "After completion of the project, the Academy will have vocational programs accredited by the National Qualifications Authority; a sustainable and re-accredited study program by the Kosovo Accreditation Agency; as well as the Institute of Research and Development at the Academy and publications in the field of security, ".

General Director of Academy Ismail Smakiqi, happily expressed on the achievements, thanked ICITAP and OSCE for its continued support to the Academy.



Minister of Internal Affairs Flamur Sefaj said that Kosovo Academy for Public Safety has done a good experience in the implementation of twinning projects which through have managed to establish higher education and be accredited by the Kosovo Accreditation Agency.

Minister Sefaj stated that "The Academy through the current project is successfully fulfilling one of the goals of this project, initially re-accrediting the Bachelor Study Program and now successfully completing the professional programs and submitting them for validation to the National Qualifications Authority for the six Public Safety Agencies ", convinced that by January 2019 the Academy would also complete other objectives such as are the initiation of the master study program and the functionalization of the Research Institute within the Faculty of Public Safety.

Minister Sefaj thanked the European Union office, ICITAP, Public Security Institutions, OSCE  which as he said, without those contribution the Academy or other institutions of law enforcement would not be at this level of development.

At the end Minister Sefaj congratulated everyone for the achieved success and provided further support in the realization of the objectives.

Deputy Head of the Cooperation Section of the European Union Office in Kosovo Libor Chlad said that the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety has used the European Union donation in the best possible way. The Academy is successfully implementing the twinning project by thanking all stakeholders involved in it.

Brusa stated that "This would not be possible without genuine commitment and cooperation not only at the institutional level but also at the personal level," , it is also of great importance to regional and global cooperation, given the fact that we live in a world that is not so confident, that I believe all of you agree.

By welcoming all stakeholders involved in this project, the Chairman of the Academy Board, Mr. Bajram Bujupi stressed that an important phase of the twinning project has been completed.

Bujupi stated that "we ended an extraordinary process of applying for accreditation at the National Accreditation Authority which in all phases requires work and professionalism,"  and also thanking Internal Affairs Flamur Sefaj for support as well as the European Union office for constant support which they are providing through various projects in Kosovo.

While Director of OSCE Department of Justice and Public Safety Aqeedah Roghe said that the Academy day by day is making progress in realizing its projects."We have had a success story with the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety because today we have an educational institution with European standards and all expenditures have gone to the right place, this I say based on the Auditor's Report," stated Roghe.

By offering support Roghe said he feels proud of collaborating with the Academy.

ICITAP representative Drita Perezic said that she feels privileged to cooperate with the Academy and we will continue this cooperation.

Twinning project on this occasion distributed certificates of appreciation for members of the ASP working group's and KAPS for contribution to the development of curricula for professional training for Public Safety Agencies in the twinning project and contribution to activities in the institutional accreditation process of KAPS in the twinning project