American University in Kosovo

The American University in Kosovo is a private university located in the Germia district of Pristina, Kosovo.^[a] The university was established in 2002, and is affiliated with Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in Rochester, New York.^[1]

American University in Kosovo, commonly known by its initials AUK, is the only non-profit private university in Kosovo.^[2] All classes are taught in English, and all the students are enrolled in degree programs at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), whose Associate's, Bachelor's or Master's degrees are earned by AUK students. AUK courses use RIT's syllabi and apply the same teaching and examination standards as in Rochester, although tuition fees at AUK are significantly lower than those at RIT's Rochester campus.

When it opened its doors in 2003, the university had an undergraduate class of 57 students. By the 2008/2009 academic year, AUK enrolled 464 undergraduates and 55 graduate students.^[3]

AUK also operates a division offering non-degree courses, the Training and Development Institute (TDI). TDI offers a range of courses for internationally recognized certificates in information technology, business management, and the English language.

Initial funding for AUK came from the Fund for the Reconstruction of Kosovo, which itself was funded by voluntary contributions from the ethnic Albanian diaspora to support the underground parallel institutions operated within Kosovo during the period before the 1999 NATO bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Subsequent funding has been granted by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID); by the Mabetex construction company of Behgjet Pacolli; and by the National Albanian American Council (NAAC) in the United States.

AUK's president is Chris Hall, a former state senator from Maine.^[4]

AUK Training & Development Institute

The Training and Development Institute at American University in Kosovo is a knowledge-driven center for continuing education. AUK seeks to support the ongoing reconstruction and transformation of Kosovo by through the professional development of individuals, the advancement of learning methods and contents, business support, linking university expertise with the business community, and certification of skills with internationally recognized standards.

The institute acts as an open portal through which the people of Kosovo can access a range of world-class knowledge systems. These learning programs—implemented across the business, educational, government and non-profit sectors—are intended to enable the people of Kosovo to take the initiative in shaping their society.

AUK Summer Program

AUK offers a summer program where undergraduate and graduate students learn about conflict management, reconstruction, humanitarian intervention, human rights, and other issues related to development in post-conflict societies. Students enrolled in the program have the opportunity to interact with international scholars, NGOs, diplomats, retired military personnel, peacekeepers, and others with experience in conflict transformations.^[5] The Program focuses on the background of the Kosovo conflict of the late 20th century wars across the region; the dynamic nature of security in the period following the fighting, and continuing challenges to conflict transformation and development.

Notes and references

Notes:

References:

External links

• Official Web site
• 2008 Article from Christian Science Monitor

Universities in Kosovo Univerzitet u Prištini Universiteti i Prishtinës American University in Kosovo Iliria Royal University AAB University University of Prizren European Vision University

Coordinates: 42°40′13″N 21°11′32″E / 42.6702°N 21.1921°E / 42.6702; 21.1921