The Board of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) in the United States has accepted the Kosovo Accreditation Agency for a period of seven years (until 31 December 2033), granting it the status of an “accrediting authority” in the United States.

In an official notification sent to the Director General of KAA, Naim Gashi, Loretta C. Waldron, Vice President for Recognition Services at the Council for Higher Education Accreditation in the U.S., confirms that “the CHEA Board of Directors has approved the Committee’s recommendation and has recognized the Kosovo Accreditation Agency as an accrediting authority.”

Kosovo becomes the first and currently only country in Europe with this important status in the United States.

This recognition from the U.S. comes less than a year after the Kosovo Accreditation Agency was registered in the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR), making Kosovo the only country in the Western Balkans with this status.

“This decision comes as a result of a broad and careful evaluation process and represents clear evidence of the reforms undertaken, institutional professionalism, and the continuous commitment of KAA to quality assurance in higher education,” the statement says.

According to KAA, this recognition strengthens the international credibility of Kosovo’s accreditation system, increases the reliability of study programs, and opens new opportunities for students, higher education institutions, and the diaspora.

“For students, this means more opportunities for further studies, academic mobility, and easier recognition and evaluation of their diplomas abroad. For higher education institutions in Kosovo, this is an important incentive to deepen cooperation with international universities, especially American ones, as well as to further advance academic standards and the quality of study programs.”

KAA stated that “this is a moment of pride for Kosovo and a major step forward for the country’s higher education system.”