KCSS Strengthens Cooperation with the Municipal Directorate of Education in Podujevë to Address Youth Violence and School Safety

The Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS) has formalized cooperation with the Municipal Directorate of Education in Podujevë through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, marking an important step toward strengthening institutional coordination in addressing youth violence and improving safety in school environments.

The Memorandum was signed with the Municipal Directorate of Education in Podujevë, represented by its Director, Mr. Avni Fetahu, and is concluded within the framework of the project “A Generation at Risk: Addressing Youth Violence and Strengthening School Safety through Research and Informed Reform.” The project is implemented in partnership with the Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM), Albania, and is supported by Open Society Foundations Western Balkans.

Strengthening Evidence Based Approaches to School Safety

Youth violence and school safety remain pressing challenges across the Western Balkans, including in Kosovo. Through this cooperation, KCSS and the Municipal Directorate of Education in Podujevë aim to support a more systematic and evidence based approach to understanding and addressing these challenges at the local level.

The partnership will focus on supporting research activities, facilitating institutional dialogue, and contributing to informed policy discussions related to school safety, prevention of violence among youth, and the strengthening of protective mechanisms within educational institutions. By combining KCSS research expertise with the Directorate institutional role and local knowledge, the cooperation seeks to ensure that interventions are grounded in real needs and practical realities.

Institutional Cooperation as a Foundation for Sustainable Impact

The signing of the Memorandum establishes a structured framework for collaboration between KCSS and the Municipal Directorate of Education in Podujevë. This framework enables information exchange, coordination of activities, and joint engagement in research driven initiatives aimed at improving safety in schools and fostering a more supportive environment for students.

Institutional cooperation of this nature is essential to ensure that research findings are not only produced but also translated into practical recommendations and policy relevant insights that can support decision making at the municipal level.

Part of a Broader Regional Effort

This cooperation forms part of a wider regional initiative implemented by KCSS and IDM Albania, which seeks to address youth violence through comparative research, cross institutional learning, and informed reform processes. By engaging local education authorities, the project aims to strengthen ownership, relevance, and sustainability of proposed measures.

The project emphasizes the importance of addressing both reported and underreported forms of violence, understanding root causes, and identifying institutional gaps and opportunities for reform in school safety governance.

Looking Ahead

KCSS remains committed to working closely with local institutions, educators, and other stakeholders to promote safer school environments and contribute to long term solutions that protect young people and support their wellbeing.

The cooperation with the Municipal Directorate of Education in Podujevë represents an important milestone in this effort and reflects KCSS continued focus on research based policy development, institutional engagement, and regional collaboration.