Business competitiveness entrepreneutship and smart development

The objective: To contribute to the economic development through the creation of linkages for university-industry collaboration and fostering entrepreneurial eco-system thus accelerating the innovation process and leading to smart economic growth which mitigate environmental impact.

The identity of the UPCO center must be built upon labor market needs and the national policy framework with consideration of developments in the education sector, technology development and society in general. While building the identity of the center, the role of business community is of key importance to support the development of an industry driven quality training (VET), research and education center for future human capacity development in Kosovo.

The activities of UPCO will be driven by innovative practices, promotion of the joint initiatives, supporting the access to training and qualifications and promoting entrepreneurship. UPCO will serve as a provider for the public sector, identified industries and business with the aim of boosting their competitiveness/ effectiveness regarding their business processes, products, or services by using smart and digital technologies.

UPCO Cluster /Hub (‘as an excellence center for development’) will be a structure in charge for communicating with other stakeholders (central and local government), business community, VET schools, other Higher education institutions etc., while utilizing HEI and with VET staff and student creativity to explore new paths towards economic development with particular focus on encouraging the cluster hub to promote sustainable and smart management resources. Connecting the local economy with new and smart technologies to boost new creative approaches to safeguard cultural and natural heritage.

Action areas/activities:

To promote the cooperation of Stimulating entrepreneurship and innovation – serving as a basis for future “Entrepreneurial University” with the focus on strengthening UPCO and UP capacities for training, research, and learning based on LLL principles;
To build collaborative partnerships with the private sector, specifically those in industries identified in previous assessments, with the aim of smart skill development and employment generation;
To foster excellence and university staff development with the aim of broadening the perspective to contribute to smart growth and sustainable development in line with development trends at EU and global level;
To create and consolidate the linkages between the UP and HE in general with the business community, government (central and local) and VET schools. The creation of linkages between academic world, public sector, and industry/business community as a prerequisite for successful provision of qualitative education and training including VET (Triple helix);
To use UPCO to promote social inclusion, gender equality and participatory governance of urban policies, providing new solutions to urban development issues by triggering creativity and utilization of technology and UP knowledge and research capacities
To promote the mobility of professors to companies as well as the participation of the University staff in innovation cluster and ecosystem is needed to promote university business interactions and collaboration