USAID’s Private Sector Partnerships to Strengthen Higher Education activity has fostered strong collaboration between academic staff at Iowa State University (ISU) and partner universities in Kosovo.
Faculties specializing in agriculture-related fields of study at the University of Prishtina, University of Peja “Haxhi Zeka,” and University of Prizren “Ukshin Vokshi” have collaborated closely with ISU’s Department of Animal Sciences to strengthen applied research capabilities, improve teaching methodologies, and expand experiential learning opportunities for agriculture students.
Kosovan professors have gained valuable insights into tools and practices that improve undergraduate learning experiences and better prepare students for the job market. Two workshops on enhancing science with practice for experiential learning, and on utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support academia and businesses in Kosovan agriculture, exemplify these efforts.
The Science with Practice workshop, led by Mike Retallick and Dusti Ingles from ISU’s Department of Agricultural Education and Studies, explored ways to integrate research and practical experiences into the curriculum and co-curricular activities. Discussions addressed financial and operational challenges while offering strategies to leverage university research to benefit students. The workshop also highlighted ISU’s model for pairing students with mentors, which inspired ideas for implementing similar programs at the partner universities.
“Research provides students with hands-on experience, helping them determine their career paths. This workshop gave us invaluable insights for structuring a program at our university, enabling better student engagement in research and practical application of knowledge.”
– Granit Kastrati, assistant professor at the Faculty of Agribusiness, University of Peja
The Utilizing AI in Agriculture workshop, led by Joshua Peschel, associate professor and associate chair for research and extension in the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at Iowa State University, demonstrated how generative AI can enhance academia and agricultural practices. Professors learned to use AI for research, plagiarism detection, class preparation, and private-sector support. Most importantly, they also explored AI applications in farming, such as monitoring and optimizing agricultural production.
“In today’s rapidly evolving world, technology has revolutionized agriculture and animal production. This training allowed me to explore AI’s immense potential for optimizing farming processes and facilitating farmers’ work. It has provided valuable insights to share with both our students and the businesses we work with," says Blerta Mehmedi Kastrati, professor at the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Science, University of Prishtina
These workshops are part of a continuous effort to strengthen university capacities in curriculum development, applied research, and experiential learning. The partnerships established through the activity exemplify the commitment to supporting students and businesses in making the most of university resources and services. These workshops lay the foundation for the next phase of the activity’s support, which will focus on designing applied research projects that actively involve students and the private sector to deliver innovative solutions for agricultural companies in Kosovo utilizing lessons learned from Science with Practice and Integration of AI in Agriculture.
The Private Sector Partnerships to Strengthen Higher Education is a USAID-funded initiative implemented by the University of Iowa, in partnership with Iowa State University and the Kosova Education Center (KEC).
