USKEB Hosts 17 English Teaching Assistants from the Western Balkans for AI in Education Training, in partnership with RIT Kosovo

Western Balkans English Teaching Assistants (ETAs), USKEB staff, and RIT Kosovo (A.U.K.) team members participating in the AI in Education Training, hosted by USKEB in partnership with RIT Kosovo (A.U.K.), Prishtina, December 2024

From December 5-8, 2024, as part of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, 17 English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) gathered in Pristina for the "Incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education" training.  

The group included two ETAs hosted in Albania, two in Bosnia and Herzegovina, six in North Macedonia, four in Kosovo, two in Montenegro, and one in Serbia. 

The evening of December 5 brought everyone together in Pristina, where they were warmly welcomed by the United States-Kosovo Educational Exchange Board (USKEB) staff at a joint dinner. This informal gathering allowed participants to get to know one another better while also learning more about the upcoming training. 

On December 6, the ETAs gathered at RIT Kosovo (A.U.K.) to kick off the training, which was delivered both in-person and virtually by esteemed professors from RIT Kosovo (A.U.K.) and the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York. 

In their welcoming remarks, Kelsey DeRinaldis, Deputy Public Affairs Officer, Public Diplomacy Section, U.S. Embassy Pristina emphasized the importance of integrating technology into education to align with global standards, while Dr. Kamal Shahrabi, President of RIT Kosovo (A.U.K), focused on the university's commitment to innovation and its role in preparing educators to face future educational challenges.    

Further, Nimani-Musa, Program Coordinator, USKEB, highlighted the transformative power of AI in enhancing student engagement and improving learning outcomes across classrooms.  

“USKEB is pleased to host these young educators in Kosovo and to implement the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Program, which brings English language and U.S. culture to Kosovo's classrooms and students.” 

The first session focused on introducing AI & machine learning to education, led by Dr. Blerta Prevalla-Etemi, Assistant Professor Computer Information Technologies Department, RIT Kosovo (A.U.K). Dr. Prevalla-Etemi explained what AI and machine learning are, highlighting their ability to analyze data, recognize patterns, and make predictions. She also brought into the classroom a few AI tools, which can create content such as text and images.  

Then, ETAs heard from Dr. Jennifer L. Schneider, Senior Director, Curriculum Integration, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in New York, who during an engaging virtual session shared how AI can enhance critical thinking skills for both educators and students. Participants engaged in group activities in classroom and learned more real-world examples and case studies for integrating AI to challenge traditional thinking in educational practices.  

The last lecture brought Dr. Linda Ziberi's on Ethical Considerations for AI in Education, who explored critical issues surrounding the use of AI in educational settings. Dr. Ziberi addressed power dynamics and access, highlighting how AI can either promote or hinder fairness in education.  

The following day, on December 7, the ETAs took a local excursion to the city of Prizren, where they explored its history, visited landmarks, and enjoyed traditional cuisine. Considering that all ETAs are placed in the Western Balkan region, this visit deepened their understanding of the region’s rich heritage and highlighted both the similarities and differences among the countries.   

Coming all from different parts of the U.S., ETAs appreciated the opportunity to explore strategies for integrating AI into educational practices and fostering innovative teaching methods. They also enjoyed the opportunity to visit Pristina and Prizren, gaining insights into Kosovo’s education system, culture, customs, and daily life.  

The training on AI and Education for English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) was made possible through funding from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and was organized by the United States-Kosovo Educational Exchange Board (USKEB) in partnership with RIT Kosovo (A.U.K). 

This event marked the second regional gathering hosted by USKEB this year. In April 2024, USKEB hosted more than 30 Locally Employed Staff (LES) from U.S. embassies across 20 countries in Pristina for a three-day workshop focused on equipping them with essential skills and knowledge for their roles in managing the Fulbright Program within the embassy framework.   

ETAs during their cultural visit to Prizren, December 2024

About USKEB: 

The United States-Kosovo Educational Exchange Board (USKEB) is a non-legal advisory board, founded to increase mutual understanding and advance relations between the people of the United States and Kosovo through educational exchange programming. It was formed to advise and assist in prioritizing resources and setting priorities for the United States-Kosovo educational exchange programming, including the Fulbright program for Kosovo, and is supported by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), the U.S. Embassy in Kosovo, and Kosovo’s Ministry of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation. USKEB is implemented by the American Councils for International Education. 

The USKEB board is comprised of five members, representing the U.S. Embassy in Kosovo, Kosovo’s Ministry of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Kosovo United States Alumni (KUSA), and Kosovo’s academia and civil society.