Blog 23 Feb 2025
2024 was another successful year for the Digital School and its franchises around the world, with numerous achievements and expansion into new countries, demonstrating the success of our staff, students, and partners in many organizations during this year.
After numerous requests and successes through Digital School franchises around the world, this year we have expanded the network in the Middle East and Africa market, with 4 points in Saudi Arabia, in Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Hasa and Taif, in Egypt with the point in Cairo, as well as with the new point in Kosovo, in Suhareka.
With over 2000 active students this year alone in Kosovo, we are witnessing an increase in the quality and engagement of our students, as well as continuously accepting students passionate about technology and programming, offering better opportunities and more personalized learning for each one. Digital School continues to remain the largest programming school in Kosovo, in terms of locations and number of students.
We have secured re-accreditation and have been re-validated by the National Qualifications Authority for the 'Junior Programmer' level for the next five years, confirming our commitment to providing training of the highest standards.
Launching the most innovative platform that combines play and learning
For the first time, we have launched a completely innovative platform that combines play and learning in an adventure for children and young people, based on Artificial Intelligence, which will help students develop the necessary skills.
This fantastic platform is designed to be very flexible and can be easily adapted to any subject! Whether it is math, science, literature or history, the games and missions are designed to reflect the content of different curricula.
In an effort to promote gender equality, the Digital School has managed to increase the participation of women in staff and in the number of students. While the participation of women in staff is over 67%, their percentage in the number of students is around 30%, demonstrating our commitment to creating an equal and supportive environment for all, as well as to reflect the diversity of our team.
On the occasion of the Girls in ICT Day, with the motto "LEADERSHIP", we welcomed over 100 participants to the Digital School in Prishtina for the ‘Girls In ICT’ Day to evaluate and motivate all girls in their orientation in the field of technology. The Director of the Digital School, Hana Qerimi, held an interactive question-and-answer conversation with our students, who were informed about their future opportunities in this profession.
- Denis Hoti, a former student of the Digital School in Prizren, was declared the winner of international challenges in Austria and Germany with the “Best Open Source” award at one of the largest hackathons in Austria, the “Tourism Technology Festival”. He also won second place in the 7-day hackathon “VGI Challenge” in Germany.
- Erdajt Sopjani, one of the first students of the Digital School, won first prize for creating a device that reads electromagnetic signals in the brain!
- Students of the Digital School in Ferizaj and Tetovo won first places in the Junction X Tirana hackathon and first prize in the ProCredit Bank challenge, with their innovative project for personal income management.
- The team of girls from the Digital School in Pristina won first place in the MiketxWiSTEM hackathon with the project “Empower Her”, which aims to empower girls for personal and professional development.
- Yll Berisha, a former student of the Digital School in Pristina, represented Kosovo at the European Cybersecurity Challenge 2024 in Turin.
- Jona Kuka, a student of the Digital School in Pristina, ranked in the Top 20 in the final of the International STEM Olympiad.
These are just some of the major successes of our students and alumni, who make us proud every day.
We organized for the first time together with the staff of the Digital School in Prishtina, the parent conference “DIGITAL PARENTHOOD”, which brought together parents, educators, psychologists and experts to discuss various topics from the field of cybersecurity, social media, games and cyberbullying, very necessary for parenting in the digital age.
In order to support children who have fought and survived cancer, the Digital School in Prishtina has offered 3 free scholarships for the programming course for children who are part of the organization 'Action for Health', to prepare them for the labor market and their bright future. We are very happy about this initiative and can't wait to learn and develop innovative applications together with the children.
We had the pleasure of assisting about 1200 public school students, who came to learn and test their coding skills during a class. We are happy that this year, a great importance has been given to the coding lesson through a partnership with SHPIK and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.
We organized a special celebration with the students who have completed the course at the Digital School (Alumni), to celebrate the achievements and close ties we have built together over the years.
Digital School, as a beneficiary of the grant allocated by the USAID Private Sector-Led Workforce Development Activity, funded by USAID and implemented by IREX, has organized free trainings for learning the most sought-after technologies: Python, DevOps and Full Stack, where after completing the training, students will continue with 3 months of practice to develop their professional skills.
We have also received 40 new computers, funded by this Activity, in order to provide the best possible conditions for training. This support has enabled us to strengthen and expand our mission to train new generations in programming and the skills necessary to succeed in today's world, where every profession is related to digital skills.
The Digital School in Prishtina has organized the Spring Code Fest coding competition, where a total of over 300 students from the Digital School franchises in Kosovo and Macedonia applied, making us very happy and proud of their successful projects, which they presented.
With the evaluation of the jury consisting of the companies Sentry Cybersecurity, Trampolinė and Digital School, at an awards ceremony, we have announced the winners of this competition:
- Arba Hamiti, in the CODE category
- Avdyl Zeqiri, in the Scratch category
- Kaon Krasniqi, in the Wordpress Basic category
- Jon Mehmeti, in the JavaScript category
- Fion Mustafa, in the Python category
- Elsa Halili, in the Front End category
- Tarik Ajvazi, in the Web Development category
- Donjeta Ramadani, in the React Native category
During the months of July and August, the Digital School organized the most special two-week summer program, for the age group 8-18 years old with a curriculum with the most attractive fields of technology, all in one package: artificial intelligence, computer and software architecture, cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, 3D game development, electronic sports and online broadcasting, programming for smart houses, 3D design.
The program also included: a full-day stay with food and drinks, lessons with qualified instructors, outdoor activities, various tournaments, company visits and guest speakers.
The summer program this year was also very entertaining for many students who were part of the Summer School, creating unforgettable moments together.
During November, the coding competition "Champion Trials Hackathon" was held, which ended successfully after two intensive days full of creativity and impressive ideas from our students. More than 500 finalists from all Digital School franchises in Kosovo, Albania and Macedonia participated in this great event, competing in different categories.
In the final of the "Champion Trials Hackathon", 37 finalists presented their projects, whose projects were evaluated by the Digital School jury in Slovenia, which announced the winners:
- Shpat Kryeziu - Speedsters, Digital School Prishtina
- Leart Obertinca - Shadows, Digital School Prishtina
- Rrita Canolli - Hipsters, Digital School Prishtina
- Flori Ollogu - Engineers, Digital School Dibër
- The successes of the Digital School and StarLabs were presented in an article in one of the most popular Norwegian magazines, Aftenposten Innsikt: "Kosovo has become a powerful example of innovation and development in the Balkans, through initiatives like the Digital School and StarLabs, contributing to the formation of new generations of technology professionals as well as bringing innovation and employment opportunities to many talents."
- The Digital School and StarLabs leaders had the pleasure of meeting for a working lunch with entrepreneur and technology leader, Eyal Waldman from Israel, at the invitation of the Minister of Economy, Artane Rizvanolli.
- Hana Qerimi won the 'Young Woman Entrepreneur' award for the Western Balkans.
- The Mayor of Tirana welcomed and expressed his support for the Digital School's activities.
- Hana Qerimi was part of the panel at Startup Ecosystem Experts Insights this year in Tirana, where the importance of investment funds for startups and their impact on advancing the startup ecosystem in Southeast Europe was discussed.
- Darsej Rizaj represented Digital School at the Berlitz Franchising Corporation 2024 Convention in Cartagena, Colombia, which was a great opportunity to network and join inspiring leaders from around the world, helping to shape the future of education.
- Hana Qerimi was also part of the meeting organized by USAID and the Kosovo Mission in Poland, where 14 dynamic Kosovar businesses participated and had the opportunity to discuss cooperation with Polish entrepreneurs to explore new market and investment opportunities.
Through our staff and students, we have been actively involved in important local and international competitions, organizations and conferences.
One of the most important points behind the extraordinary success is the teamwork and professionalism of our staff. We thank you all for your continued partnership and support this year, being an important part of us, in particular the staff of the Digital School, all partners, students and parents for their trust.
As a token of gratitude for their work, all employees of the Digital School with over three years of experience in the company, have enjoyed an unforgettable free trip to Vienna.
We thank you all for your continued partnership and support during 2024, being an important part of us, in particular the staff of the Digital School, all partners, students and parents for their trust.
Many students from Kosovo, Albania, Macedonia, America and beyond have become part of the programming course thanks to online learning. Part of this large online community are also students who live in rural areas and areas surrounding large cities, having the opportunity to connect online wherever they are.
