Status Quo on Student Organisations Legislation in Kosovo Salzburg, July 2014

1. Project:“Support to the Internationalization of Kosova Higher Education System through establishment of the Kosova Students’ Union” Status Quo on Student Organisations Legislation in Kosovo Salzburg, July 2014

2. Data Collection- Methodology • Two different questionnaires' developed and distributed at: • Ministry of Education Science and Technology- MESTK; • Public & private higher institutions in Kosova. • Total received: 9 • 1 K-Cirt, MESTK • 8 Higher Education Providers (3 public and 5 private)

3. Meaning • Term: Students` union/ organization used by HEI in Kosovo?

4. Data Analysis – Questionnaire from MESTK

5. Legal framework for establishment of student union in Kosova? • There is no legal framework for establishment of Students` union in national level. • The HE law is under amendment, which is foreseen to regulate the establishment of the National Student Union. Not Approved by the Assembly.

6. Timeframe needed for the legal framework & documents to be approved by the responsible body? • The amendment of the HE law is foreseen to be concluded during 2014, after which a sub-act/ administrative instruction is needed to define the structure, modality of function as well as the sustainability of the Union.

7. Establishment of KSU during project life • Achievable until April 2015, (17th month of the project life) • The legal framework (law and other administrative regulation) can be developed and approved until then. • The staff cannot be recruited and its agenda be determined before the legal framework is put in place.

8. Procedures for completion of the legal framework for establishment

9. Data Analysis – Questionnaire from higher education providers (public & private)

10. Number of students` organization at institutions? All respondents have at least one student organization.

11. Year of Establishment

12. How they are organized? • According to the Statue and Regulation of institution for Students' Organizations; • All students of institution have the rights to become members in the student`s union and participate in all activities. The union bodies are: • a) Executive Council, • b) Senate, • c)Consulting Council. • Selection procedures for student representatives is regulated by special regulations;

13. All organizations are established according to a relevant legal documents within the institution.

14. 3. a) is the legal framework part of the institution statue or you have any specific document only for students' organization? • It is regulated with the Statue and the Regulation on Organizing Students' Organization and students elections; • It is both: institutional- statute and it is specific only for student's organization regulation; • Student organization and activities are defined by the statute which is enacted by the Parliament of the organization;

15. All Students` representatives are elected by the elections within their institution.

16. 50 % are elected individually, 25% in groups and 25% individually and in groups

17. Existing legal document that describe the students' election procedures? • There is legal document “Rules for students Elections at university level; • Elections are hold every 2 years, this is regulated with the Statue and the Regulation on Organizing Students' Organization; • Students elections are held with two voting list; • for faculty council and • student parliament Each organization has submitted lists with names of candidates to participate in elections, and then which gains the highest number of votes has more members of its student representation in the Council & Student Parliament.

18. Students' organization duties and responsibilities • Represents students and contributes in fulfilling students` social, cultural and academic requests. • Defends students interest to the faculty and university management at all levels • Promotion of students interest and welfare • Organizing student outside the curriculum, especially in the field of culture and sports • Collaboration, advancement in career, increasing quality, identifying problems at university.

19. Reporting of the students activities • Five organisation- publish regular reports of their activities, • One organisation while one institution said that they do not have regular reports on writing form, while one said that “It depends on how the structures of organizations are open to the public, some of which are active continuously publish their activities, their work, the facilities that they offer to students, those information they provide through internet websites and social media etc. • Three institutions did not answered in this question.

20. Reporting of the Students Activities Note: No membership fee applied at all respondent institutions.

21. Decision making bodies students are represented? • They represent students in the Steering Board with the right to propose, debate for the students' issues, but with no right to vote. • They are part of institution in: • Council for professional academic issues; • In developing the curriculum; • The research activities. • Part of institution bodies: • Faculty councils, • Senate, • Office for quality assurance

22. Comments • Universities may no function properly if there are no present students organizations that are active. It is better to allocate any funds from the university or the Ministry of Education, and have more student activities, collaboration with students from other universities, exchange of experiences.

23. Thank you for your attention!