Higher Education and Nation-building in the “Newborn” Country of Kosovo

Kosovo, the youngest country in Europe, is often referred to as "newborn."This paper maps the trajectory of higher education in Kosovo through the lens of internationalization.This article focuses on the ways that higher education internationalization is used as a tool for nation-building, development, and international recognition, highlighting both home-grown initiatives and the influence of foreign donors, as well as ongoing challenges that the "newborn" nation faces to date.he first president of Kosovo, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, was educated at the University of Prishtina and the University of Paris before leading Kosovo's effort for independence.Thanks to his example, higher education internationalization has been central to Kosovo's nation-building efforts since 2008 and continues to influence the nation's identity and quest for international recognition today.Alongside other countries in the Western Balkans, such as Bosnia and Herzegovina or North Macedonia, Kosovo is using internationalization and higher education reform strategies to develop the country and to engage in international projects focused on national development.However, internationalization also faces significant challenges in Kosovo.Chief among these is that Kosovo is young (it declared independence from Serbia in 2008).Its independence is recognized by at least 100 other countries, but it is not a member of the United Nations or European Union, as some of these organizations' members do not recognize Kosovo's independence.