The new coalition government, led by Prime Minister Albin Kurti, was voted in by the Kosovo Assembly at the start of this month following political deadlock since elections in October.
Professor Avdullah Hoti has been named Deputy Prime Minister, Professor Hykmete Bajrami is Minister of Education and Dr Lumir Abdixhiku is Minister of Infrastructure and Environment. All three studied postgraduate level Economics at Staffordshire Business School and have since climbed the ranks in both higher education and politics.
Avdullah Hoti completed his MSc in Economics for Business Analysis at Staffordshire University in 2002 followed by a PhD in Economics, which focused on Kosovo’s labour market, in 2007. After returning to Kosovo he worked at the University of Prishtina while embracing political activity which led to him become Deputy Mayor of Kosovo’s capital city Prishtina and, later, the Minister of Finance.
Hykmete Bajrami, completed her MSc in Economics for Business Analysis in 2003 before taking up a position in the Faculty of Economics, University of Prishtina in Kosovo, where she completed her PhD. Hykmete was Minister of Trade and Industry in an earlier government and became well known in Kosovo through her strong performance as a female politician challenging government officials in the male dominated Assembly.
Hykmete said: “I feel strongly connected to academia and am very fond of education. Taking responsibility for leading the Ministry of Science and Education, however hard and complex it may be, is a task that I hold dearly and will conduct with huge accountability. I have always been driven by the dedication to serve my country to the best of my ability.”
Lumir Abdixhiku completed his PhD in Economics in 2013 and became Executive Director at the Riinvest Institute for Development Research before entering politics and running for Assembly. An active critic of the previous government, Lumir proved popular with the young electorate and polled a very high number of votes in the recent elections.
Iraj Hashi, Emeritus Professor of Economics, who taught each of the graduates during their time at Staffordshire University, said: “Seeing three Staffordshire University graduates in high office is amazing and demonstrates our international impact. They are all a credit to the University.”
Avdullah, Hykmete and Lumir all received scholarships during their studies in Stoke, jointly funded by the Open Society Foundation and Staffordshire University.
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