Cash for 'inclusive' Kosovan university

Albanians have returned to the university in Pristina

The international campaign to support a multi-ethnic university in Kosovo is to receive £150,000 from the UK government, the Higher Education Minister, Baroness Blackstone has announced.

The money will help establish faculties of journalism, political science and business at a revamped University of Pristina in Kosovo.

The cash will also be used to set up English language courses, helping academic staff forge closer links with other universities world-wide.

This project is not just about redressing the balance in the Albanian population, but in the long run it should benefit everyone

Andrew Hadley, British Council

Britain is one of a number of countries backing the university as it works to embrace a multi-ethnic future.

When teaching in the Albanian language was banned by the Serb authorities, many Albanian students and professors left.

But after the Nato bombing campaign two years ago, Albanians returned to the university.

Assistant director of the British Council in south-east Europe, Andrew Hadley, said now it was the Serbs who were ostracised.

"The situation is so precarious for the Serbian population that there is no integration," Mr Hadley said.

'Limitless' process

The process of re-establishing the university was "on-going and limitless", he said.

"Now the difficulty is finding a multi-ethnic future and stressing inclusivity.

"The biggest problem for any sector - especially education - in Kosovo is how to give equal opportunity to the Serbian population.

"This project is not just about redressing the balance in the Albanian population, but in the long run it should benefit everyone."

Mr Hadley said the British input could not have come at a better time, as the university was currently planning the curriculum, selecting staff and recruiting students for the next academic year.

Early days

Baroness Blackstone said the redevelopment of the University of Pristina was "just the start".

"The United Nations Mission in Kosovo aims to ensure that the university has enough facilities and funds for students to learn and for staff to be paid.

Tessa Blackstone said higher education in Kosovo had been in a "perilous state"

"The University of Pristina must be a safe place of learning for all current and future students in Kosovo and I am pleased that we are able to give some help in this rebuilding process."

Higher education in the country had been in a perilous state, she said.

"For several years, through repression and inequality, many Kosovans were denied access to a university education.

"Others had to struggle to continue their higher education in secret and at great personal risk."

Far-reaching support

Other donations have come from Austria, Germany, Finland and Saudi Arabia. Italy is also planning a substantial contribution.

The Association of European Universities, the World Bank, the Soros Foundation, the Council of Europe and the Austrian World University Service are also supporting the development.

Individual universities are providing direct help, including the University of Leeds which has donated computer equipment.