A Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the Albanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ASCAL) and the Kosovo Accreditation Agency (KAA), in Prishtina, on 30.03.2022. On behalf of ASCAL, Albania, this agreement was signed by the head of this Agency, Mrs. Xhiliola Bixheku, while from KAA, Kosovo the agreement was signed by its director, Mr. Naim Gashi. At the center of this Agreement is the inter-institutional cooperation between our two countries in the field of quality assurance in higher education.

Among others, the head of ASCAL, Mrs. Bixheku said that he believes that this will be a fruitful, mutual cooperation, in terms of maintaining quality standards in higher education. She also stressed that “... our focus and efforts will go towards setting European standards and procedures in our higher education system. For us, it is not only a legal obligation, but also a challenge, to participate in the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA), for which we think we will have the unlimited help of the KAA ".

Related to this context, the Director of KAA, Mr. Gashi said that this agreement will contribute not only to the continuous growth and improvement of quality in higher education, but also to the advancement of academic studies in both our countries. In addition, He added that "The Memorandum is aimed at promoting the implementation of European Standards and Procedures (ESG) in higher education systems, as well as cooperation in meeting the criteria and recommendations of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education. (ENQA) and the European Register for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (EQAR).

In this Memorandum, among others it is stated that “ASCAL and KAA undertake to cooperate in the exchange of good practices between the two countries in the field of quality assurance in higher education; Exchange of information about the quality, results and accreditation of Higher Education Institutions and the programs they offer; Encourage exchanges of academic staff and students engaged in accreditation processes in both countries (as members of the external evaluation team; Joint application in regional and international projects in the field of quality assurance in higher education; Exchange of knowledge about regulations, instructions, manuals or any other legal act that regulates the field of quality assurance in higher education; Reciprocal visits of the respective staffs for the exchange of experiences between them.".