Kosovo Maarif Schools: Pioneers of Artificial Intelligence Education
October 08, 2026
International Maarif Schools in Kosovo honored students who demonstrated outstanding achievements in various fields throughout the 2025–2026 academic year at a special awards ceremony. Approximately 60 students who achieved success in national and international competitions and events across a wide range of disciplines, from science and arts to robotics and sports, received their awards during the Achievement Awards Ceremony.
The ceremony, which celebrated the students’ accomplishments and achievements throughout the year, was attended by Şeyda Çimeli Aydın, Counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Pristina; Mehmet Nedim Aslan, Kosovo Country Representative of Turkish Maarif Foundation; Dr. Kadir Dinç, Religious Affairs Counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Pristina; İlker Yurduseven, Interior Affairs Counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Pristina; Mehmed Taha Doğan, TİKA Kosovo Coordinator; Áron Kerékgyártó, Commercial Counsellor at the Embassy of Hungary; Suat Bakkal, General Manager of BKT; Necmeddin Esat Belen, Turkish Airlines Representative in Kosovo; and Meriton Sunduri, Executive Director of the Kosovo Turkish Chamber of Commerce (KTTO). Representatives of public institutions and civil society organizations, members of the press, school administrators, teachers, and parents also attended the event.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mehmet Nedim Aslan, Kosovo Country Representative of Turkish Maarif Foundation, stated that the students’ achievements were made possible not only through their disciplined efforts but also through the dedication of their teachers and the support of their families. He emphasized that the students had successfully represented both their schools and Kosovo through their accomplishments not only in academics but also in science, technology, arts, culture, and sports.
Highlighting the significant achievements of Turkish Maarif Foundation as it marks its 10th anniversary, Aslan underlined that its educational approach is rooted in the principle of nurturing knowledgeable, good, and virtuous individuals. Recalling that educational activities in Kosovo began in 2017 and are currently continuing in Pristina and Prizren, he stressed that equal importance is placed on developing students’ sense of social responsibility, cultural awareness, and international communication skills alongside their academic competencies.
Devoting a significant part of his speech to digital transformation in education, Aslan announced that the AI Literacy Program, initially launched as a pilot initiative with the support of Turkish Maarif Foundation, had been officially integrated into the curriculum during the current academic year. He noted that International Maarif Schools in Kosovo had become the first school in the country to introduce and teach AI literacy as a dedicated subject.
Aligned with the digitalization objectives outlined in Kosovo’s Education Strategy 2022–2026, the program aims to equip students not only to use technology but also to understand how it works, critically assess the information it provides, evaluate its potential impacts, and develop solutions through the responsible use of technology.
