Prof.Ass. Dr

Idriz Sopjani

Dean

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.