Functional Review of the Ministry of Education, Science and ...

iii) Division of special education,
iv) Division of education for communities,
v) Division for general education development.
b) Department of VET:
i) Division of VET administration,
ii) Division for VET development,
iii) Division of lifelong learning (LLL).
c) Employees performing activities that do not fit into any of the above divisions or are
common for more divisions can be left unassigned or form a separate division (i.e. Division
of Common Activities).
The duties of individual divisions correspond essentially to the duties of the corresponding sectors in the
current organizational structure.
B.1.2 Higher education
In other countries, the higher education area is generally dealt with a dedicated department. Looking at
EU-6 ministries, we can see this in 4 cases. Two countries, Finland and Slovenia, have units dedicated to
higher education at the lower level. In terms of organization of higher education departments, there are
different options (university / non university divisions, recognition divisions, mobilities division, R&D in
higher education institutions division).
Current organizational arrangement in HE area with regard to its character does not require any
immediate change. Things can potentially change after the new law on higher education is adopted, but
reorganization in this area is not a priority.
Recommendation B.4: Retain the Higher Education Department in its current position including its
internal division. In case of need, adjust eventually the internal division of the department in accordance
with the results of the ongoing efforts in the higher education area (the preparation of the new law).
B.1.3 Research and development
One of the basic responsibilities of the MEST is to promote research. The Program of Government
stresses the goal of the MEST to build capacities for research and science. The current state of MEST’s
capacities in R&D area does not show the readiness of the MEST to meet these requirements and
presents one of weaknesses of the system. This statement is based on the following observations:
The MEST has very weak personnel capacity in the R&D area and needs to clarify organization of
the ministry work. (In terms of ministry organization in other countries, research and development
area shows similar situation as it is with higher education: except for Finland, there is always
some sort of department of R&D. In Finland, there is a division dedicated to R&D. In terms of
internal structure of the departments, different options are used (policy vs. projects, international
cooperation in R&D, R&D at universities).
Currently, the MEST has no budget for activities in R&D (except the budget for basic survival of
the research institutes). Under such conditions, no development of the area is feasible. But even
when some finances for R&D are allocated, it is important to have in place an effective system of
their delivery to the final recipient. We are proposing a standard way based on principle of grants
provided competitively using peer-reviewed research proposals.
There are only a small number of research organizations in Kosovo. Three of them, Pedagogical
Institute, Albanological Institute and Historical Institute are currently organizations of the MEST’s
portfolio. We had meetings at all of these institutes and we have found that the conditions for their
work are rather poor and that the institutes cannot effectively function under such conditions.
Moreover, there is a declared strategic priority presented recently by Minister Hoxhaj to establish
research institutions at universities ... (see section A). So it is necessary to consider seriously the
future position of these institutes.
15