The Public International Business College Mitrovica (IBCM) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded the prestigious Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence (JMCoE) under the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme.

This award represents a significant milestone for IBCM and Kosovo, positioning IBCM as the first public higher-education institution in the country to establish a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence.

Jean Monnet Centres of Excellence are among the European Union’s leading initiatives for higher education institutions engaged in European Union studies. They are recognised focal points of expertise and knowledge on EU subjects, bringing together teaching, research, policy dialogue, capacity building and public outreach. They connect academic communities with students, public institutions, civil society, media and the wider public.

The newly awarded project, “EU Environmental and Agricultural Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development in the Western Balkans,” will run for 36 months and establish the IBCM Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence. The Centre will serve as a strategic platform for academic excellence, applied research, policy dialogue and capacity building in support of Kosovo’s European integration process.

The award builds on IBCM’s successful experience in implementing Jean Monnet Modules. Through these initiatives, IBCM has advanced EU-related teaching, academic exchange and public discussion, creating meaningful learning opportunities for students, academics and the wider community. 

The IBCM Centre of Excellence will focus particularly on EU environmental and agricultural policies, rural development and climate action. It will strengthen knowledge and analytical capacities related to EU standards and the EU acquis, while connecting academic expertise with the practical needs of public institutions, universities and civil society.

Through research, policy briefs, training activities, policy dialogues, conferences, public events and a dedicated digital platform, the Centre will promote evidence-based policymaking and stronger institutional readiness for EU integration. It will create opportunities for students, researchers, early-career professionals, public institutions and civil society organisations to engage with EU policies in a practical and meaningful way.

The project will also have a strong regional dimension, supporting cooperation, knowledge exchange and joint learning with institutions and partners across Kosovo, the Western Balkans and the European Union. This approach will help build stronger networks and encourage shared responses to environmental, agricultural, rural-development and climate-related challenges.

“The award of a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence is a moment of great pride for IBCM. It recognises the dedication of our academic community and strengthens our capacity to contribute to Kosovo’s European future through education, research, dialogue and innovation. Building on our successful Jean Monnet experience, this Centre will create meaningful opportunities for students, researchers, institutions and civil society, while supporting sustainable development and closer alignment with European Union standards and values.”
— Prof. Dr. Mihone Kerolli Mustafa, Rector of IBCM

Through the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, IBCM will contribute to a stronger public higher-education and research ecosystem in Kosovo. By supporting students and early-career researchers, generating policy-relevant research, and building cooperation between universities, public institutions, civil society, and regional partners, the Centre will help turn academic knowledge into practical responses to shared environmental, agricultural, and climate challenges.