Several Iowa State University professors traveled to Kosovo during the summer to conduct a variety of workshops and training sessions as part of the 5-year $4M USAID-funded activity titled “Private Sector Partnerships to Strengthen Higher Education”. Those professors included Dr. Curt Youngs and Christen Burgett from the Animal Science Department, Dr. Mike Retallick from the Agricultural Education and Studies Department, Dr. Sergio Lence from the Agricultural Economics Department, and Dr. Josh Peschel from the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department.

Professors, graduate students, and staff members at the University of Peja, University of Prizren, and University of Prishtina learned about development of a career preparation course, development of a university experiential learning program, methods for statistical analysis of data gathered during research projects, and artificial intelligence. 

In addition, several research partnerships were formed between Iowa State University professors and their counterparts in the three Kosovo public universities. During his two summer trips, Dr. Curt Youngs also cultivated agreements with several Kosovo-based private sector partners to contribute to the transformation of selected bachelor’s degree programs at Peja, Prizren, and Prishtina through provision of student internships, guest lectures, and/or service on industrial advisory boards/corporate panels.

For more information about CALS partnerships in Kosovo, contact Dr. Curt Youngs, cryoungs@iastate.edu