Prof. Ass. Dr. Vjosa Jonuzi – Shala was born on September 14, 1967, in Prishtina, into an educated urban family. In Prishtina, she completed elementary school and secondary school—with a focus on scientific and social studies—as well as the state music school. Since childhood, in the 1970s, she participated in numerous musical, literary, and sports competitions of the time.
In 1991, she graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Pristina (https://uni-pr.edu/), earning the title Graduated Jurist (Dipl. Iur., Protocol No. 7450) in the General Law program.
In 2009, she completed her postgraduate studies at the same faculty in the field of Criminal Law, obtaining the academic degree Master of Legal Sciences (Mr. Sc., Protocol No. 108) with a thesis entitled:
Criminal Offenses Against Sexual Integrity under the Criminal Code of Kosovo, with Special Emphasis on the Criminal Offense of Rape.
In 2014, she earned her doctoral degree at the University of Tirana (https://unitir.edu.al/), Faculty of Law, specializing in Criminal Law. She defended her dissertation:
The Meaning, Conditions of Implementation, and Comparative Aspects of Wiretapping as Covert and Technical Measures of Surveillance and Investigation under the Criminal Procedure Code of Kosovo
(Link 1,
Link 2).
Following the successful defense of her dissertation, she was awarded the scientific title Doctor in Criminal Law (Dr. Sc., Registration No. KVTA 1175).
Her professional experience began at the Central Office – Head Quarter of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe)
(https://www.osce.org/mission-in-kosovo) in Pristina on July 20, 1999. From September 1, 1999, within the OSCE framework, she began working as a legal issues instructor at the Police Service School in Vushtrri
(OSCE Police School Report) until December 31, 2006, when she left this position at her own request.
During this period, in her capacity as a police instructor, she worked as a trainer for police cadets and members of the correctional service (prison managers and guards)
(https://shkk.rks-gov.net/), focusing on the applicable laws in Kosovo: Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure Law, including other applicable legislation and UNMIK regulations.
The general scope of work included Basic Training (General Police) and Advanced Training, supported by ICITAP
(International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program) within the U.S. Department of Justice
(https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-icitap).
In advanced training courses, she was an instructor in: Basic Crime Investigations; Advanced Crime Investigations; Drug Investigations; Domestic Violence Investigations; Advanced Human Rights Training; Advanced Gender Issue Investigations; Covert and Technical Surveillance and Investigation Measures; and Management and Traffic Investigation Training.
As part of these duties, she trained Border Police (Basic and Specialized Courses), conducted training for Sergeants (First-Line Supervision), Lieutenants (Middle Management), and the Kosovo Correctional Service (Basic and Specialized Correctional Officer Training).
Other responsibilities included organizing numerous workshops, preparing Legal Issues manuals (in Albanian and Serbian), translating manuals, preparing exams and tests, and translating exams and tests, among other tasks.
From March 1, 2007, to March 31, 2009, she worked as a Legal Advisor at DFID (Department for International Development) in Pristina
(DFID Kosovo),
supporting project activities for the Ministry of Justice (specifically the Kosovo Correctional Service) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (specifically the Department of Emergencies).
Her general work areas included: Drafting, developing, and providing support to raise awareness/training required as part of project activities; Assisting the Kosovo Correctional Service and the Department of Emergencies in developing departmental plans (strategic and operational plans); Providing guidance and support to counterparts on areas related to project activities, including assistance to departments in preparing their plans; Helping develop systems for monitoring and reporting progress against plans; Supporting improvements in emergency preparedness (within the Department of Emergencies) and in the Kosovo Correctional Service; Assisting in improving cooperation between different organizations in the justice and internal security sectors; Conducting research on project-related areas; Supporting improvements in internal and external communications; Assisting international colleagues in understanding the perspectives expressed by local counterparts and providing comments, analysis, and translation of materials into and from local languages.
From October 1 of the 2009/2010 academic year onward, she has been a full-time professor at AAB College. In 2017, she was awarded the academic title of Assistant Professor
(Buletini AAB).
In the Bachelor and Master programs, she has taught the following subjects: Criminal Law (BA and MA); Comparative Criminal Law (MA); International Criminal Law (MA); Applied Criminology (BA); Terrorism (BA); Penology (BA); Criminology (BA); Criminal Policy (BA); Organized Crime (BA); Victimology (BA and MA); Professional Ethics and Children’s Rights (BA – Faculty of Social Sciences); and Human Resource Management (BA – Faculty of Public Administration).
Prof. Ass. Dr. Vjosa Jonuzi – Shala has 23 years of teaching experience. She currently lectures on Criminal Law – General Part (BA) and Criminal Law – Special Part (BA). She has supervised 32 Master’s candidates at AAB College and participated in numerous committees within the same program.
Prof. Ass. Dr. Vjosa Jonuzi – Shala, from 1999 until 2025, has attended numerous training programs. Among others, she holds the following certificates: Introduction to the OSCE (OSCE); Conflict Resolution (OSCE); Understanding Conflict (OSCE); Basic Management Skills (OSCE); Presentation Skills Training (OSCE); Communication Skills Training (OSCE); MS Word & MS Excel – Advanced Level (OSCE); Annual Awards and Recognitions 1999–2006 (OSCE); Individual references for her contribution to the Kosovo Police Service School (OSCE). She completed the International Course for Police Instructor Development (Kosovo Police Service School – Department of Police Education and Development), through which she was certified as an International Police Instructor. Additionally, after training organized by the Center for Professional Training and Innovation (QAPI), she was certified in: Organizational Culture and Leadership; Integrating Research into Teaching and Using SPSS Software for Data Analysis
Prof. Ass. Dr. Vjosa Jonuzi – Shala (ORCID) is the author of 2 university textbooks, 4 scientific articles indexed in Scopus, and several other scientific articles published across various academic platforms (SSRN, DOAJ, EBSCO, WorldCat, etc.). The works are presented below in chronological order:
Jonuzi-Shala, V. (2011). The Criminal Offense of Rape and Other Criminal Offenses Against Sexual Integrity According to the Criminal Code of Kosovo, with Commentary. Prishtina: AAB-Riinvest.
ISBN: 978-9951-494-23-6 | ISBN: 9951494234 | OCLC: 1384449671
WorldCat Record
Jonuzi-Shala, V. (2013). The Codification Process and the New Criminal Code of the Republic of Kosovo. Thesis Kosova, 1(1): 53–75.
CORE Full Text | WorldCat Record
Jonuzi-Shala, V. (2015). The Influence of Foreign Expressions in the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Republic of Kosovo. Thesis Kosova, 2(1): 71–82.
CORE Full Text | WorldCat Record
Jonuzi-Shala, V. (2019). Criminal Law – General Part. Prishtina: AAB College.
ISBN: 978-9951-494-89-2 | ISBN: 9951494897 | OCLC: 1346253445
WorldCat Record
Jonuzi-Shala, V. (2020). Forced Sterilization According to the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kosovo: Origin and Figure of the Criminal Offense. Thesis Kosova, 9(1): 81–108.
Full Text | DOAJ |
EBSCO |
WorldCat
Jonuzi–Shala, V. (2023). Lessons to be Learned about Suicide Numbers in Kosovo: Comparative Aspect and Discrepancy Between Police Reports and Official Data. Pakistan Journal of Life and Social Sciences, 21(1): 439–450.
DOI | Scopus |
EBSCO |
WorldCat
Jonuzi–Shala, V. (2024). Kosovo Sui Generis: Criminal Act “Inducing Sexual Acts by False Promise of Marriage” and the 2019 Criminal Code. Pakistan Journal of Criminology, 16(1): 17–28.
DOI | SSRN |
Scopus |
EBSCO |
WorldCat
Jonuzi–Shala, V., & Shala, H. (2024). Convicted Women in the Republic of Kosovo 2003–2019: The Volume, Dynamics, and Structure of Criminal Acts in Comparative Aspect. Pakistan Journal of Criminology, 16(2): 797–812.
DOI | SSRN |
Scopus |
EBSCO |
WorldCat
Jonuzi–Shala, V., & Shala, H. (2024). Kosovar Attitudes towards Homosexuality and Lesbianism and the Legalisation of Same-Sex Civil Unions. Pakistan Journal of Life and Social Sciences, 22(2): 15493–15509.
DOI | SSRN |
Scopus |
EBSCO |
WorldCat
Prof. Ass. Dr. Vjosa Jonuzi – Shala has delivered individual presentations at the following international conferences:
In December 2022, in cooperation with the EU Office in Prishtina
(Europe House Kosovo), Prof. Ass. Dr. Vjosa Jonuzi – Shala held a Masterclass titled
Exploring Rule of Law, organized in partnership between Pomilio Blumm SRL and Europe House Prishtina.
Event Photo
Prof. Ass. Dr. Vjosa Jonuzi – Shala is an accomplished pianist and a skilled skier. She is married, has two children, and is the grandmother of three granddaughters. She resides in her hometown.
