AAB College welcomed a high-level academic delegation from Western Carolina University (WCU), USA, for an institutional visit aimed at exploring new opportunities for international collaboration in higher education, research, academic mobility, and professional development.
The delegation was composed of distinguished academic leaders, including Dr. Kim Winter, Dean of the College of Education and Allied Professions and Professor of Middle Grades Education; Dr. Dan Grube, Assistant to the Dean for International Programs and Professor of Health and Physical Education; Dr. AJ Grube, Dean of the College of Business and Professor of Sport Management; and Dr. Wes Milner, Director of the Office of Global Engagement and Professor of Political Science.
The guests were welcomed by the Vice-Rector for International Affairs and Cooperation of AAB College, Prof. Ass. Dr. Venera Llunji, together with the institution’s academic leadership, including the deans of the Faculties of Social Sciences, Psychology, Health Sciences, Law, and Public Administration, Head of the Office for Project Development, and the Principal of the British School of Kosova. Faculty deans, programme coordinators, and the Principal of the British School of Kosova actively participated in the discussions, presenting the achievements, strategic priorities, and future development plans of their respective academic units.
Throughout the visit, the Western Carolina University delegation toured the AAB College campus and its modern academic facilities, expressing their admiration for the university’s infrastructure, learning environment, and institutional vision.
The WCU delegation expressed its appreciation for the warm hospitality extended by AAB College, highlighting the quality of the campus, the professionalism of the academic teams, and the strong alignment between the academic profiles of the two institutions.
The discussions identified numerous areas of mutual interest that provide a strong foundation for a long-term strategic partnership. Among the principal topics were collaboration through the Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility (Global Mobility) programme, facilitating student, faculty, and staff exchanges; the joint development of international academic and research projects; cooperation with the AAB College Center for Teacher Training in advancing teacher education and professional development; and collaboration between the business disciplines of accounting, finance, economics, and management.
Another important focus of the discussions was the opportunity to establish cooperation with the British School of Kosova, particularly in the areas of teacher exchanges, short-term mobilities, professional practice, and innovative educational initiatives. Representatives of both institutions recognized the significant potential for creating international pathways that would benefit students, teachers, and academic staff alike.
The meeting also emphasized the importance of expanding collaboration beyond mobility programmes by developing joint research initiatives, organizing international conferences and academic events, exchanging expertise, and promoting innovation in teaching and learning. Both institutions reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening internationalization through sustainable partnerships that contribute to academic excellence and global engagement.
The visit concluded with a shared commitment to formalizing institutional cooperation through a partnership agreement, paving the way for future collaborative activities between AAB College and Western Carolina University. The two institutions expressed confidence that this emerging partnership will create new opportunities for academic exchange, research collaboration, professional development, and international networking while further strengthening the global dimensions of higher education in both Kosovo and the United States.
By bringing together academic leadership, faculty experts, and institutional representatives from both institutions, the visit represents another important milestone in AAB College’s internationalization strategy and reinforces its position as one of the leading higher education institutions in Southeast Europe committed to innovation, quality education, and global academic cooperation.
