Prof. Ass. Dr. Idriz Sopjani was born on October 11, 1983, in Prishtina, where he completed his primary and secondary education. In 2006, he graduated with a degree in “General Nursing” from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Prishtina.

He continued his postgraduate studies at Martin Luther University in Germany, where in 2010 he completed a master’s program in “Health and Nursing Sciences,” earning the title Master of Science in Health and Nursing Sciences (MSc).

In 2018, he successfully defended his doctoral dissertation at the same university – Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg – on the topic: “Evaluation of the Implementation of the WHO Global Campaign ‘Save Lives: Clean Your Hands’ in Hospitals in Kosovo”, earning the title Doctor of Health and Nursing Sciences.

Professional Experience

Prof. Sopjani has a solid academic background in higher education in the field of health sciences, with a special focus on academic development and institutional leadership. Since 2016, he has been engaged at AAB College in Prishtina, where he serves as Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences.

At AAB College, he lectures in the Bachelor of Nursing program, teaching the subjects “Nursing in the Elderly and Geriatrics” and “Nursing Research”. In the Master of Health Management program, he teaches “Scientific Research Methods”.

Throughout his tenure, he has led the development and accreditation processes for all health-related academic programs at the institution, contributing significantly to the enhancement of academic and professional standards. He has also fostered sustainable collaborations with regional and international higher education institutions.

Another important aspect of his engagement is mentoring junior academic staff and actively supporting students in their professional formation. He has supervised a considerable number of master’s theses in the Health Management program on various research topics.

From 2010 to 2016, he worked at Heimerer College as a lecturer and academic coordinator, contributing to curriculum design, study program accreditation, clinical practice organization, and the effective integration of theory with professional practice. He also coordinated academic staff and organized professional development activities to improve teaching quality.

He began his academic career at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Prishtina, where from 2009 to 2015 he served as a teaching assistant in the Department of Nursing, supporting lectures, practical training, and research activities—gaining valuable academic and institutional experience.

Scientific Publications (Scopus & Google Scholar)

Prof. Sopjani is the author and co-author of numerous articles published in international peer-reviewed journals indexed in Scopus and Google Scholar. His research interests include public health, nursing, professional education, and attitudes toward vaccination and infectious diseases.

1. Shahini, M., Telaku, N., Sopjani, I., Kamberi, M., Fetahu, D., & Murtezaj, D. (2023). Emotional intelligence as a protective factor against mental health problems of health workers.
   Population Medicine, 5(12), 1–8.
   https://doi.org/10.18332/popmed/176215
2. Sopjani, I., Arbag, E., Tokat, M. A., & Ozozturk, S. (2022). The COVID-19 Vaccine Opinions of Women Planning a Pregnancy: International Web Blogs Scanning.
   Medical Archives, 76(5), 354.
   Link
3. Asimakopoulou, E., Andreou, A., Patelarou, A., Patelarou, E., Sopjani, I., & Argyriadis, A. (2022). Epidermolysis Bullosa: A case study in Cyprus and the nursing care plan.
   International Journal of Nursing Knowledge, 33(4), 312–320.
   https://doi.org/10.1111/2047-3095.12364
4. Patelarou, A., Saliaj, A., Galanis, P., Pulomenaj, V., Prifti, V., Sopjani, I., Mechili, E.A., et al. (2022). Predictors of nurses’ intention to accept COVID‐19 vaccination: A cross‐sectional study in five European countries.
   Journal of Clinical Nursing, 31(9–10), 1258–1266.
   https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15980
5. Patelarou, E., Galanis, P., Mechili, E. A., Argyriadi, A., Argyriadis, A., Asimakopoulou, E., … & Patelarou, A. (2022). Assessment of COVID-19 fear in five European countries before mass vaccination and key predictors among nurses and nursing students.
   Vaccines, 10(1), 98.
   https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines10010098
6. Sopjani, I., & Elezi, S. (2021). Prevalence of hypertension and diabetes in the population of Kosovo.
   Frontiers of Nursing, 8(3), 261–267.
   https://doi.org/10.2478/fon-2021-0027
7. Patelarou, E., Galanis, P., Mechili, E. A., et al. (2021). Factors influencing nursing students’ intention to accept COVID-19 vaccination: A pooled analysis of seven European countries.
   Nurse Education Today, 104, Article ID 105010.
   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2021.105010
8. Terziqi, H., Sopjani, I., Gjikolli, B., Muqaj, G., & Mustafa, M. (2021). Algorithms for management of post-burn contracture in upper extremity in children.
   Annals of Burns and Fire Disasters, 34(2), 192.
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8396151/
9. Sopjani, S., Sopjani, I., & Dushi, O. (2019). A self-reported study toward melanoma knowledge, protective behavior and personal risk among nursing faculty students at AAB University of Kosovo.
   Medical Archives, 73(3), 201–204.
   https://doi.org/10.5455/medarh.2019.73.201-204
10. Sopjani, I., Jahn, P., & Behrens, J. (2017). Training as an effective tool to increase the knowledge about hand hygiene actions: An evaluation study of training effectiveness in Kosovo.
    Medical Archives, 71(1), 16–19.
    https://doi.org/10.5455/medarh.2017.71.16-19
11. Sopjani, I., Vehapi, S., Gorani, D., Imeri, M., Vitoja, S., & Tahiri, S. (2016). The relation between depressive symptoms and self-care in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 in Kosovo.
    Medical Archives, 70(6), 425–428.
    https://doi.org/10.5455/medarh.2016.70.425-428
12. Tahiri, Sh., Sopjani, I., Ejupi, V., Beqiri, L., & Berisha, A. (2020). Postpartum depression and the role of midwives in its early detection.
    Open Journal of Nursing, 10(8), 7454.
    https://www.scirp.org/journal/Paperabs?PaperID=102302
13. Sopjani, I., Ejupi, V., & Tahiri, Sh. (2020). Administration of chemotherapy in University Clinical Center of Kosova by nurses.
    Open Journal of Nursing, 10(5), 513–525.
    https://www.scirp.org/journal/Paperabs?PaperID=100386
14. Sopjani, I., Jahn, P., & Behrens, J. (2017). Hand hygiene training and its impact on the knowledge of undergraduate nursing students in Kosovo.
    Global Journal of Health Science, 9(4), 142–147.
    https://doi.org/10.5539/gjhs.v9n4p142
15. Sopjani, I., & Gruda, A. (2017). The knowledge, attitudes and practices of nurses toward management of hospital-acquired infections in the University Clinical Center of Kosovo.
    Materia Socio Medica, 29(2), 84–87.
    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5544441/
16. Sopjani, I. (2016). Health care personnel’s attitude toward hand hygiene in regard to the prevention of health-care associated infections: A cross sectional study at the University Hospital Pristine.
    Open Journal of Nursing, 6(10), 841–852.
    https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=71459

Books and Academic Manuals

• Jaha, L., Gashi-Geci, A., & Sopjani, I.
  Surgery for Nurses, Artini Publishing House, 2002.
  ISBN: 978-9951-281-32-4
• Ramaj, A., Sopjani, I., & Prifti, V.
  Raising Awareness of Nurses and Midwives in Scientific Research: A Manual, Artini Publishing House, 2012.
  ISBN: 978-9951-8859-7-3

Research and Development Projects

Prof. Sopjani has participated in several national and international projects focused on higher education development in nursing and public health issues, including:

• 2009 – Comparison of Bachelor curricula in nursing in Southeast Europe and the EU (isee-hsp.net)
• 2010 – Public knowledge and attitudes toward HIV/AIDS in Kosovo (Global Fund, kcdf.org)
• 2010 – Institutional collaboration in HIV/AIDS treatment in Kosovo
• 2010 – HIV/AIDS risk among mobile populations in Kosovo (Global Fund)
• 2012–2016 – INSTEAP: Interdisciplinary Reform and Innovative Higher Education for New Professions (TEMPUS project, European Commission, cordis.europa.eu)

Personal Profile:

Prof. Ass. Dr. Idriz Sopjani is a well-rounded professional with long-standing commitment to quality in education, development of academic capacities, and the advancement of the nursing profession in Kosovo.

He is married, has two children, and lives in Prishtina.

Teaching Coordinator at the Faculty of Health Sciences – AAB College

Education

Edona Gara was born on September 17, 1995, in Drenas, where she completed her primary and secondary education. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Prishtina in 2013–2016. She then pursued a Master of Science in Health Education at the same faculty, graduating in 2020 (2017–2020). Subsequently, she completed another Master of Science in Nursing at the University of Vlora “Ismail Qemali” in Albania from 2020 to 2023. Since 2023, she has been pursuing PhD studies at the University of Tor Vergata in Rome, Italy, in the Department of Biomedicine and Health Education, focusing on Nursing Science and Public Health (https://web.uniroma2.it/).

Professional Experience

From 2016 to September 2017, Edona Gara worked as a scrub nurse at Kardio Center Hospital in Prishtina, a specialized institution in cardiothoracic surgery and invasive procedures.

Her academic career began in October 2017 at AAB College, where she started as a teaching assistant at the Faculty of Nursing. From October 2017 to January 2018, she also served as Clinical Practice Coordinator, organizing and overseeing clinical placements for nursing students in partner healthcare institutions, ensuring alignment with the curriculum and clinical standards.

From 2018 to October 2023, she held the position of Quality Coordinator at the Faculty of Nursing. In this role, she was responsible for: Implementing and improving internal academic and administrative quality standards; Drafting self-evaluation reports and preparing for programmatic and institutional accreditation; Collecting and analyzing data on teaching quality and student satisfaction; Supporting continuous improvement in teaching practices and monitoring academic performance.

Since 2020, Edona Gara has also served as a lecturer in the Nursing program at AAB College. She teaches: Nursing care for older adults and geriatrics, and Diagnostic-Therapeutic Program. Through her teaching, she contributes to the professional preparation of students in line with contemporary standards in health sciences, integrating clinical experience and research skills into the educational process. She applies active learning methods, continuous assessment, and practical orientation to strengthen students’ competencies in addressing modern healthcare challenges.

Since October 2023, she has been serving as the Teaching Coordinator at the Faculty of Health Sciences at AAB College. In this role, she is responsible for: Planning and organizing the teaching process for all study programs within the faculty; Supporting academic staff in developing teaching materials and applying modern teaching methods; Ensuring compliance of teaching with higher education standards and labor market requirements in the healthcare field.

Her multi-year experience in various academic and administrative roles has equipped her with a deep understanding of the higher education system in Kosovo, as well as strong organizational, collaborative, and leadership skills in institutional settings.

Scientific Publications

• Gara, E., Shuleta-Qehaja, S., & Gara, E. (2024). Nurses’ attitudes to care of the elderly. Multidisciplinary Science Journal, 6(8), 2024134. https://doi.org/10.31893/multiscience.202413413

Conferences and Seminars

• May 29–31, 2025 – 7th ESNO Congress, Zagreb – Active participant
  Topic: Self-care behaviors in older adults affected by multiple chronic conditions living in a low- and middle-income country and its associated variables – Book of Abstracts
• 2024, Prishtina, Kosovo – Nursing Care for Geriatrics, AAB College
• 2023, Prishtina, Kosovo – Nursing Care for Patients with Chronic Diseases (Diabetes and Hypertension), AAB College
• 2024, Prishtina, Kosovo – Improving Women’s Health during the Covid-19 Pandemic, organized by AAB College & Dokuz Eylül University
• 2021, Online – Nursing Care Services and Skill Education in the Pandemic Process, AAB College & Dokuz Eylül University – Participant
• 2021, Online – Covid-19 Pandemic Challenges and Opportunities in Nursing Education, AAB College & Dokuz Eylül University – Active participant
• May 5–6, 2021, Prishtina, Kosovo – The 1st International Congress of Nurses, Midwives and Other Health Professionals of the Balkans (CNMHPB), organized by the Kosovo Chamber of Nurses

Edona Shala was born on September 7, 1993, in Kosovo. She completed her Bachelor’s studies in General Nursing at the “Fehmi Agani” University in Gjakova in January 2017. Subsequently, she pursued a Master’s degree in Health Care Education at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Prishtina, which she completed in November 2020.

Her professional career began at AAB College, where during the 2018–2019 academic year, she served as an assistant in the subject “Clinical Practice,” conducting exercises in nursing laboratories. Later, from October 2019 to January 2023, she was engaged as an assistant at the Faculty of Medicine of “Fehmi Agani” University in Gjakova, where she lectured in “Clinical Practice I” and supervised students in healthcare institutions.

Since October 2020, Edona returned to AAB College in a permanent role as a full-time assistant, lecturer, and practice coordinator for second-year students in the course “Oncological and Palliative Nursing Care.” As of September 2023, she has also been appointed as the Quality Assurance Coordinator at the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the same college, while also serving as the coordinator of diploma theses.

Edona has participated in numerous professional trainings and courses, both nationally and internationally, including:

• The international training “Improving Nursing Education and Practice During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” organized by the Faculty of Nursing “Dokuz Eylul” in Turkey and AAB College (2021);
• An international training titled “General Nursing Knowledge,” with participants from Albania, North Macedonia, Slovenia, Croatia, and Turkey (2021);
• International continuing professional education courses in pain management and nursing care for patients with neurological disorders;
• Certification in psychiatric nursing and mental health;
• Certification in “An Integrated Approach to Health and Health Education.”

She possesses strong organizational and computer skills, with proficiency in programs such as MS Word, PowerPoint, SPSS, and Adobe. Additionally, she has excellent command of English and German languages, both spoken and written.

Edona is a member of the Kosovo Nursing Chamber (OIK) and is recognized for her professional dedication, teamwork, and commitment to improving the quality of nursing education.