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Rr. Elez Berisha, Nr.56 Zona Industriale Fushë Kosovë 10000 Prishtinë Republika e Kosovës

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Psychology

The Faculty of Psychology has the primary aim of developing higher education in the field of psychology through which the aim is to raise the quality of people and social groups’ life. In this program, students will acquire specialized and up-to-date knowledge on psychological scientific foundations. On the other hand, the development of career skills is noted and present at each stage of the study. As a result, this degree of psychology studies puts students in a position for many jobs in the public and private sector, both within and outside the sphere of professional psychology.

Dean

Arvesa Studenica

Dean

Arvesa Studenica was born in Peja, she is a cognitive psychologist and lecturer with extensive international experience in teaching, research, mental health program development, and professional training facilitation. With a solid academic foundation from the University of Sheffield and advanced research experience in the United States as a Weiser Professional Fellow at the University of Michigan, she has actively contributed to the fields of cognitive psychology, bilingualism, and women’s wellbeing. Arvesa currently serves as a university professor, scientific reviewer, and co-founder of mental health initiatives in Kosovo.

Academic Background
  • 2023: Weiser Professional Fellow, University of Michigan, USA.
  • 2017 – 2021: PhD in Cognitive Psychology, University of Sheffield, UK.
  • 2013 – 2016: Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, University of Sheffield, UK.
Professional and Academic Experience:
  • 2025 – Present: Reviewer for The National High School Journal of Science (NHSJS).
  • 2024 – Present: Co-founder of the virtual mental health platform N’sferë T’mendjes.
  • 2023 – 2024: Researcher at Venus Ageless – developing manuals and training programs for women’s cognitive wellbeing.
  • 2022 – Present: Trainer and consultant for institutions such as EULEX, Belgian Embassy, and others.
  • 2021 – Present: Professor of Psychology, AAB College, Kosovo.
  • 2021 – 2022: Collaborator, Human Resources Division, EULEX – training program development.
  • 2019 – 2021: Lecturer, Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield International Faculty, Thessaloniki.
  • 2017 – 2021: Research Assistant, University of Sheffield International Faculty, Thessaloniki.
  • 2019: Project Manager for Bilingualism Against Bullying, University of Sheffield.
  • 2019: Developer of the online course Research Ethics, University of Sheffield.
Selected Publications
  • Studenica, A. et al. (2022). The influence of bilingualism on adolescent cognition. Cognitive Development, 63, 101203.
  • Laketa, A., Studenica, A., et al. (2021). Biculturalism and bilingualism. JEP: General, 150(11), 2273.
  • Laketa, A., Chrysochoou, E., Studenica, A., et al. (2023). Bicultural identity development. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 33(3), 899–912.
  • Studenica, A. (2021). Doctoral Thesis, University of Sheffield.
  • Uka, F., Gashi, A., & Studenica, A. (2024). Internal cohesion psychotherapy. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 24(1), 1–8.
  • Uka, F., Gashi, A., Studenica, A., et al. (2023). Treating depression with internal cohesion psychotherapy. J. Clin. Basic Psychosom, 2, 1336.
Conferences and Presentations
  • 2024: Artificial Intelligence in the Age of Transformation – speaker, moderator, and panelist.
  • 2022: Regional Conference on Learning Spaces in Education – participant.
  • 2019: PGR Conference, University of Sheffield – two oral presentations.
  • 2019: Three-Minute Thesis Challenge – oral presentation.
  • 2018 & 2017: SE European Doctoral Conference – oral presentations in both editions.
  • 2018: Forum of Albanian Women in Thessaloniki – talk on the Albanian community.
  • 2018: Conference on Developmental Psychology – participant.
International Activities and Media Engagement
  • 2023: Research visit to the University of Michigan as part of the Weiser Fellowship.
  • Guest speaker on various television programs promoting mental health and women’s empowerment in society.

 

Arlinda Gashi

Coordinator

Born and lives in: Prishtina, Republic of Kosovo

Education
  • B.A. in Psychology, University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina” (2014–2017)
  • M.Sc. in Neuro-Cognitive Psychology, “Carl von Ossietzky” University of Oldenburg, Germany (began 2019)
  • Ph.D. Candidate in Clinical Psychology and Psychopathology, “Paris Lodron” University of Salzburg, Austria
  • Trainings:
    • Electroencephalogram (EEG) and Neurofeedback
    • Psychological assessment and therapeutic approaches
    • Continuous training in Trauma Therapy at Diakonie Kosova
Professional Experience
  • Acting Dean, Faculty of Psychology, AAB College
  • Coordinator and Lecturer, Faculty of Psychology, AAB College (October 2024–present)
  • Clinical Psychologist, UNI Clinic (July 2024–present)
  • Co-founder, Mindosphere platform
  • Consultant for Capacity Building, GIZ Kosovo (July–December 2024)
  • Consultant for Mental Health, Community Development Fund – CDF (July–November 2024)
  • Volunteer Neurofeedback Practitioner, Clinic of Psychiatry, QKUK (January 2024–January 2025)
  • Returning Expert, GIZ Kosovo project for junior experts (April 2022–March 2024)
  • Vice Director, Psychologist, and Researcher, Empatia Clinic (November 2021–March 2024)
  • Consultant for School Psychologist Capacity Building, Psychology Institute (May–December 2023)
  • Clinical Psychology Intern, various public health institutions (2021–2022)
  • Project Assistant, Kosovo Expert Group NGO (2017–2019)
  • Researcher, Center for Psycho-social and Medical Research, Heimerer College, and University of Prishtina (2017)
Scientific Publications
  • Uka, F., Gashi, A., & Studenica, A. (2024). Internal cohesion psychotherapy: The nature, principles, and application. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 24(1), 1–8.
    DOI: 10.1002/capr.12632 (shared first authorship)
  • Danböck, S. K., et al. (incl. Gashi, A.) (2023). Psychometric properties of the dissociative subtype of posttraumatic stress disorder scale: replication and extension in two German-speaking samples. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 14(2), 2238492.
    DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2023.2238492
  • Uka, F., Gashi, A., Studenica, A., Gllogu, D., & Sopjani, V. (2023). Treating major depression using internal cohesion psychotherapy: A case report. J. Clin. Basic Psychosom, 2, 1336.
  • Uka, F., Gashi, S., Gashi, A., et al. (2022). The effectiveness of internal cohesion psychotherapy in treating young clients with depression and anxiety disorders: The role of developmental assets in Kosovo context. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1005709.
    DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1005709 (corresponding author)
Research Interests

Clinical psychology, psychopathology, and neuroscience — with a focus on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Scientific Conferences
  • Neurofeedback Treatment – 7th Conference on Health, Wellbeing, Education, and Children’s Rights
  • The Role of Avoidance on Intrusive Memories in PTSD – 6th Conference on Health, Wellbeing, Education, and Children’s Rights
  • Confronting Fear after Trauma – 14th European Meeting of Human Fear Conditioning (Poster)
  • Living through Emotions – Conference of Social Sciences Faculty, Post-Pandemic Challenges
  • Neural Responses to Everyday Auditory Stimuli – 5th Conference on Health, Wellbeing, Education, and Children’s Rights
  • The Role of Communication on Interpersonal Relationships
  • The Effect of Labels on Children’s Self-Esteem – Evidence-Based Future
  • The Effect of Labels in Children’s Mental Health – European Conference of Language and Speech Therapy
Study Visits and Other Engagements
  • Summer School: R and Machine Learning Course, Radboud University (July 2025)
  • Research Assistant, Clinical Stress and Emotion Lab, University of Salzburg (Jan–Feb 2023)
  • Researcher, Developmental Psychology Lab, University of Vienna (Feb–Mar 2021)
  • Participation in training programs on psychological and socio-political topics (Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Artpolis, etc.)
Scholarships and Grants
  • University Scholarship for Bachelor Studies (2015–2016, 2016–2017)
  • DAAD Scholarship for Master Studies (2019–2021)
  • HERAS+ Scholarship for Doctoral Studies (2024)
  • Erasmus+ for Study Visits
Licenses and Qualifications
  • Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Ministry of Health, Republic of Kosovo
TV and Media Appearances
  • Studio A – ATV. Watch here
  • Speaking on Aggression, Libero – ATV
  • What is Neurofeedback – Radio Dukagjini. Watch here
  • The Neuroscience of Habits – In Session with Delina Telaku, KlanKosova. Watch here
  • How Does Psychotherapy Help? – Radio Dukagjini. Watch here
  • Mental Health Campaign – RTK. Watch here
  • How to Improve Brain Performance. Watch here

Aida Thaqi

Quality Assurance Coordinator

Aida Thaqi Gashi, born on January 13, 1998, in Pristina, is a university teaching assistant, researcher, and PhD candidate in linguistics. She is currently engaged at the Faculty of Foreign Languages at AAB College, where she contributes to teaching, scientific research, and institutional development.

After completing her undergraduate and master’s studies in English Language and Literature at AAB College (2015–2021), she began her academic career as a teaching assistant at the same institution. In parallel with her academic duties, she has held significant administrative positions, including Quality Assurance Officer (2021–2025) and currently as Academic Affairs Officer (2025–ongoing).

In 2023, she began her doctoral studies at the University of Antwerp in Belgium, within the Faculty of Arts, specializing in Linguistics. Her research focuses on the intersection of language, gender, and women’s rights in the context of Kosovo. Since 2023, she has been co-supervised by Prof. Ass. Dr. Uranela Demaj.

Aida has participated in a wide range of international professional training programs that have strengthened her expertise in research management, data analysis, academic ethics, and language rights. She has successfully completed training programs from institutions such as the University of Antwerp, Springer Nature (Berlin), ELEVEL Academy (Germany), KU Leuven, Radboud University in the Netherlands, and the Discourse Studies Center in Barcelona. These trainings have covered topics such as Critical Discourse Analysis, Project Management, Personal Effectiveness, Analytic Storytelling, GDPR & Research, SQL & Data Analysis, among others.

In the academic sphere, Aida is an active presenter at international conferences and symposia. In May 2024, she presented at Stockholm University, Sweden, at a transdisciplinary symposium with the topic: “Women’s rights’ activist tackling of absences in Kosovar society: Reflections on practice and research.” She also participated in the International Pragmatics Association Conference (IPRA) in Brussels in July 2023.

In addition to her roles as researcher and educator, Aida has served as a member of the organizing committees for several scientific conferences hosted by AAB College, including:

  • 1st Alumni Research Conference 2021: Language, Literature and Didactics

  • 2nd Alumni Research Conference 2022

  • Gender Studies Conference

Throughout her career, Aida has distinguished herself through her commitment to academic quality, active engagement in gender equality issues, and contribution to developing research capacities through mentorship and interdisciplinary work. She remains dedicated to the advancement of higher education in Kosovo and the internationalization of her scholarly research.

 

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