Arber Gorani, Kosovo

MA International Politics & Security Studies

University of Bradford

"The opportunity to reside, study and meet people in the UK through the Chevening Scholarship has had a crucial influence on my personal and career development in recent years"

In the aftermath of the war in Kosovo, disillusioned with real professional prospects, I joined OSCE (Organization for Security & Co-operation in Europe) in 1999, performing the duties of a translator at the department dealing with police education and development. Consequently and quite quickly, I moved into professional positions initially dealing with staff development and training and later with curriculum development.  

Despite my rapid professional growth it was quite obvious that I needed to complement this development with indispensible academic knowledge. Therefore, in that regard I would like to highlight my attendance at the MA International Politics and Security Studies at the University of Bradford (Department of Peace Studies) during academic year 2002/2003. This was a remarkable opportunity which boosted my previous knowledge and helped me gain new academic insight regarding issues relevant to security, international politics and democratization.

Subsequently, I was seconded by the OSCE MiK (Mission in Kosovo), to the Office of Public Safety / Office of the Prime Minster of Kosova, in the capacity of Advisor to the Director of the Office and representing the same in  projects such as: involvement of the Office in the creation of the Internal Security Sector Review Secretariat; drafting of Regulations on the Kosovo Police Service; and establishment of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Ministry of Justice. Then, at the request of the Minister of Internal Affairs (2006) I was re-seconded by the OSCE to the Ministry of Internal Affairs as Principal Political Adviser to the Minister, contributing further to the establishment and consolidation of that institution. 

Furthermore, my academic experience gained in the UK, was decisive for my engagement in writing a chapter entitled "Impact of Decentralization in the further development of the Kosovo police Service" in  a publication sponsored by Kosovo Foundation for Open Society), named ‘Policy Development Fellowship’. The above-mentioned academic experience was even more important for my involvement in one of the private academic institutions (University for Business and Technology) in Prishtina, as part-time lecturer in subjects such as Peace Studies and Nation-State Building.

Currently, I am working with UNDP Kosovo as a Capacity Building Adviser for New Security Institutions.