ASU and Universum International College partner to shape Kosovo’s future workforce

In Kosovo, a young and ambitious nation with one of the fastest-growing economies in the Balkans, building a workforce ready for the digital age is essential. Arizona State University’s partnership with Universum International College (UNI)—a leading institution in Kosovo with over 6,000 students and an ASU-Cintana Alliance partner—supports this goal by bringing ASU’s industry-aligned courses in digital skills, health and leadership to Kosovo.

Cintana Education, an organization that partners with universities worldwide to expand access to high-quality education, has collaborated with UNI to support degree-seekers in Kosovo. This new initiative between ASU and UNI expands those resources to serve working professionals in Kosovo and the broader region. As Kosovo’s economy evolves, ASU’s programs offer practical skills across technology, health, and wellness, equipping workers with tools as dynamic as the nation’s potential. This initiative combines ASU’s top-tier learning experiences with locally tailored content, creating a unique program that balances global insights with Kosovo-specific relevance.

“This partnership is both a knowledge exchange and an opportunity for Kosovo’s future workforce to shape their own path,” said Alejtin Berisha, president of UNI. “Together, we’re breaking new ground, bringing ASU’s innovative approach to learning to professionals in Universum and empowering them with skills that matter locally and globally.”

Transforming local learning 

Think of upskilling not as another line on a resume or CV, but as a modern passport for navigating a career and life. The ASU-UNI partnership offers professionals hands-on, career-driven learning across three fundamental areas:

• Digital skills: Nearly all modern work revolves around the ability to confidently use digital tools. ASU’s partnership with UNI is creating chances for learners to demystify tech, sharpening their knowledge and intuition for the digital world. Participants become competent and capable in a way that resonates with current and future needs. 
• Health and wellness: With courses that go beyond standard health education, students will be ready to actively shape the future of well-being in their communities. With focuses on mental health, wellness strategies, and public health, learners can become advocates for health on a personal and community level. 
• Soft skills: Leadership, communication, and problem-solving are the bedrock of any career. ASU’s soft skills courses are crafted to help learners understand people as well as problems, honing their ability to listen, connect, and lead. These courses offer something rare—a focus on the skills that make people more human and workplaces more connected.

“This partnership with ASU is a transformative step for our vast community of professionals, empowering them with real-world skills that match Kosovo’s growing role in the global economy,” shared Uran Rraci, executive vice president, Universum College. “By combining ASU’s expertise with our local knowledge, we’re preparing people not just for jobs but for impactful careers that can shape the future of Kosovo.”

Setting the stage for Kosovo’s leap into the future

As a young nation, Kosovo’s hunger for innovation and global connection makes it a natural setting for a partnership that is as forward-looking as it is practical. Universum College has established itself as a leading force in Balkan education, and now, with ASU as a partner in the upskilling and reskilling space, it’s creating a springboard for professionals to develop skills that resonate far beyond borders.

To kick off this partnership, representatives from ASU’s Learning Enterprise–LE, Marco Serrato (associate vice president at LE and professor of global strategy and business analytics of Thunderbird School of Management) and Faith Dalzell (program manager, enterprise and global projects at LE), joined UNI, Republic of Kosovo and US leaders for an official launch event in Pristina on October 31th. 

Highlights included a keynote by Serrato, along with a lineup of Kosovo’s corporate, academic, and government leaders. The agenda featured a masterclass on AI and learning analytics for talent development, showing how Kosovo’s workforce can harness AI to streamline operations, bolster innovation and meet the demands of a rapidly changing market.

“Digital transformation is at the core of our national strategy and economic priorities,” Artane Rizvanolli, Minister for Economic Development of the Republic of Kosovo, shared on stage at the event. “These economic priorities are also objectives of our digital agenda 2030 which sets forth a vision of a modern technology driven Kosovo in which digital technology serves as a pillar for innovation, industry growth and international collaboration”

The ASU-UNI partnership exemplifies how ASU’s global reach connects innovation with local potential. With Kosovo as one of the most promising hubs for growth in the region, this partnership is creating pathways for the local workforce to lead with skills that set them apart on a world stage. This is especially important for the country while considering emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and the digital skills that are shaping the future of work. 

Expanding AI and workforce development initiatives

As AI continues to transform industries worldwide, the ASU-UNI partnership will equip Kosovo’s workforce with skills to lead in this new landscape. Together, ASU and UNI are developing customized programs to support Kosovo’s business community in integrating AI into their operations. This focus on business-to-business partnerships and tailored workforce development programs aims to provide local organizations with the tools and expertise to innovate, enhance productivity, and remain competitive.

From AI-powered talent development to learning analytics, these initiatives aim to empower Kosovo’s industries to streamline processes and advance strategically. ASU’s partnership with UNI makes it possible for local professionals to access cutting-edge courses and solutions that address the specific needs of Kosovo’s evolving market, while enhancing the country’s position as a forward-thinking hub for technology and innovation.

“Our partnership with UNI is about changing futures and reshaping what’s possible for Kosovo’s learners, professionals, organizations and the country overall,” said Serrato. “When institutions with shared values come together, there’s no limit to what we can achieve for our communities.”

For more information on the ASU-CESA partnership or to schedule an interview with ASU leadership, please contact:

Samantha Becker
Strategic Communications Advisor to the EVP
ASU’s Learning Enterprise
sam.becker@asu.edu