Academic exchange in Kosovo: KU DaZ team travels to Prishtina

To strengthen the partnership with the University of Pristina in Kosovo, which has been in place since 2025, and to promote international networking, a delegation from the KU’s "German as a second language" (DaZ) team visited the Kosovar capital. From May 11 to 15, 2026, Prof. Dr. Tanja Rinker, Dr. Dagmar Silberstein, and Nora Budde-Spengler visited the University of Pristina (Universiteti i Prishtinës) for the first time. This visit served to deepen the “Interinstitutional Agreement” between KU’s DaZ degree program and the DaF degree program at the Kosovar university.

The focus was on academic and cultural exchange, made possible by Erasmus+ funding for university cooperation. Following an introductory working meeting to plan joint projects and coordinate developments in the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs, the emphasis shifted to teaching practice. In seminars with students majoring in German as a Foreign Language, KU faculty members discussed key methodological and didactic issues. Topics included the didactics of multilingualism, effective vocabulary work, and the meaningful use of media such as images, music, and films in the classroom. “We were impressed by the students’ excellent German skills, their high level of motivation, and their enthusiastic participation”, said Silberstein.


However, the exchange was not limited to the seminar rooms. Together with project partner Prof. Dr. Milote Sadiku, the delegation took a field trip to Prizren. This not only offered insights into the history and cultural diversity of Kosovo but also provided an opportunity for professional exchange with colleagues. In addition, the KU representatives used the visit to support students in identifying topics and determining the methodological focus of their Master's theses.


The visit has significantly strengthened the collaboration between the two universities and highlighted the value of such partnerships for the international profile of the German as a Second Language program at the KU. It provided students and staff on both sides with valuable experiences for their academic and personal development. The relevance of this partnership is evident not only in the exchange of faculty members but above all in the intensive networking among students: Currently, two German Studies students from Pristina are spending the summer semester at the KU. For the upcoming 2026/27 winter semester, four additional students from Kosovo are already scheduled to study in Eichstätt. These study visits are also funded by Erasmus+.