Certification Award Ceremony for the 5th Round of ICT and Digital Skills Training Programme

The EU Support for the Competitiveness of Kosovo’s ICT Sector project, funded by the EU and implemented by WEglobal in collaboration with European Management and Prishtina REA, in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy, organized the Certification Award Ceremony for the 5th round of the ICT and Digital Skills Training Programme.

Project Overview and Goals

The project aims to address the skills gap in Kosovo’s ICT sector by providing advanced ICT training. The target audience includes students and graduates in computer science, engineering, programming, and mathematics, along with developers from ICT companies, start-ups, and freelancers. The program focuses on:

  • Enhancing digital skills among youth
  • Creating employment opportunities and career growth within the ICT sector
  • Encouraging participants to establish start-ups in Kosovo’s innovation and incubation centres
  • Enabling careers as freelancers or consultants
 

In addition to training individuals, the project strengthens business skills within ICT companies. It promotes their products through targeted business training, B2B events across the EU, and partnerships with traditional sectors in Kosovo, helping drive digitalization across industries.

Key Project Goals and Achievements

By the end of the project, the following key results are expected:

  • Enhanced Digital Skills: Develop a highly skilled ICT workforce that meets market demands, improving the competitiveness of both Kosovo’s ICT and traditional businesses.
  • Improved Export Capacities: Increase the export potential of Kosovar ICT businesses by facilitating international collaboration. This includes organizing:
    • Three international ICT conferences
    • Six international B2B events
    • 25 regional B2B events within Kosovo
  • e-IDAS Implementation: Prepare for Kosovo’s adoption of the e-IDAS system by designing a framework and solution for the national e-ID system.
 

Certification Award Ceremony for Round V

The Round V Certification Award Ceremony recognized 251 trainees who completed the 300-hour advanced ICT training. Over the course of five months, international and local trainers delivered the training in various modules, including:

  • Web Development Professional
  • Enterprise Java Programming
  • Cyber Security
  • Web Development Practitioner
  • Python
  • Big Data Analytics
  • Machine Learning
 

Certificates were awarded to trainees who passed the final exam. Additionally, senior managers from ICT businesses and trainees who completed a three-week Business and Management Training focusing on International Marketing also received certificates.

Certification Award Ceremony for ICT Training Program

The ICT for Kosovo’s Growth project, in collaboration with various stakeholders, organized the Award Certification Ceremony for the 5th round of the ICT and Digital Skills Training Program. The event took place with participants from the Ministry of Economy, EU Office in Kosovo, STIKK, business partners, trainers, and trainees. Over 200 people attended, including ICT company managers, project partners, and representatives from other organizations.

Keynote Speakers and Remarks

The ceremony featured remarks from key figures in the project’s success. Mr. Alessandro Bianciardi, the Deputy Head of the Cooperation Section at the EU Office in Kosovo, emphasized the EU’s commitment to supporting the development of digital skills in Kosovo’s youth. He highlighted the project’s role in promoting ICT sector exports and strengthening Kosovo’s economy.

Mr. Getoar Mjeku, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Economy, expressed the government’s dedication to creating a skilled workforce that can meet the demands of Kosovo’s growing ICT sector. He stressed that the government will continue to support initiatives like this to enhance youth employment opportunities in the digital space.

Achievements of the Project

During the event, Grigoris Kontzoglou, Team Leader of the project, presented the project’s significant achievements. He proudly shared that the project has already surpassed its goal of training 1,440 people in advanced ICT skills. With 1,528 trainees successfully completing the program, the project exceeded its target by 6.1%.

Looking Ahead

Looking forward, the project team remains committed to supporting the growth of Kosovo’s ICT sector and fostering the next generation of skilled professionals in the digital economy. The continued success of the program will help Kosovo’s ICT businesses thrive in international markets, creating more job opportunities and business partnerships.

The project continues with the Round VI of advanced ICT and Digital training programme, next international
B2B events in Vienna and regional B2B events in Kosovo