NCD Leadership Course Launched at Prishtina International Summer University 2026
On 6 July 2026, the “NCD Leadership Course” officially opened at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Prishtina as part of the Prishtina International Summer University (PISU) 2026. Delivered as a specialized programme outside the regular PISU curriculum, the two-week course brings together emerging public health professionals and experts from other areas to strengthen leadership capacities in addressing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).
“The NCD Leadership Course addresses an issue of critical importance for Kosovo and one that is equally relevant on a global scale. Noncommunicable diseases affect not only the health sector but also the country's broader social, economic, and institutional development,” said Prof. Rozafa Basha, Vice Rector for Internationalization and Academic Exchange at the University of Prishtina during the official opening.
Organized through a partnership between the University of Prishtina, the National Institute of Public Health of Kosovo, the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, and the Integrated Health Services (IHS) Project, the course equips participants with practical skills in health policy analysis, evidence-informed decision-making, leadership, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement. Participants were selected through a competitive essay process, demonstrating their motivation to contribute to improving health policy in Kosovo.
The first week combined expert-led lectures with practical group work focused on four priority NCD risk factors: tobacco control, unhealthy diet and obesity, alcohol, and physical inactivity. Participants explored policy content and processes, leadership approaches, and stakeholder mapping while developing policy analyses and practical solutions to real-world public health challenges.