The intervention focuses on three thematic areas, leading to three expected results each contributing to the above mentioned objectives:

(1) The quality of education offered at public HE institutions will be enhanced through improved and labour market oriented teaching and learning (didactics, planning), and improved quality assurance mechanisms.

(2) The system of research promotion in Kosovo will be improved substantially through developing capacities and establishing a national research fund and administration that is functioning according to international standards.

(3) Quality management and governance as well as administrative capacities of main stakeholders (MEST, universities) will be further developed in order to be more efficient, transparent, effective and customer-oriented.

The three thematic areas are divided into ten components, thus allowing tailor-made measures for each of the expected results, specifically targeted at the direct beneficiaries. Direct target institutions are: the public universities of Kosovo: University of Prishtina, University of Prizren, University of Mitrovica; the MEST, the Kosovo Accreditation Agency, the Kosovo NARIC Office, and the National Research Council (approx. 2.000 staff members in total). Indirect beneficiaries are the student populations of the three public universities (ca. 55.000) as well as the students of private universities and graduates with foreign degrees returning to Kosovo (approx. another 10.000). Through enhanced research capacities and improved RTDI (Research, Technological Development and Innovation) structures in Kosovo, economic development and entrepreneurship are stimulated from which the whole society benefits. To this end, the project also contributes to poverty reduction and economic development.