The Democracy for Development Institute (D4D) held today its Tuesday Salon on the topic: “The (mis)match between higher education and labor market needs: Are university programs equipping young women with the skills and competencies required by the labor market in Kosovo?”
The panel featured Dukagjin Pupovci, education expert; Brikena Berisha, Program Manager at the Kosovo Stability Initiative; and Besnik Krasniqi, professor at the University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina”. The discussion was moderated by Saxhide Mustafa, Senior Associate at the Riinvest Institute.
During the discussion, it was emphasized that the challenges in aligning education with labor market needs are complex and not solely gender-related. However, the importance of creating an inclusive and safe university environment for girls and women—free from gender discrimination and sexism—was strongly highlighted.
Panelists stressed the need for curriculum reforms and improvements in teaching approaches, as well as strengthening career guidance services, especially to support female students in developing practical skills and preparing for the labor market, including CV writing and career orientation.
It was also discussed that although the number of women graduating from higher education is higher than that of men, this does not always translate into equal participation in the labor market, highlighting the need for stronger institutional interventions and closer cooperation between universities and the private sector.
