During this week, on December 23rd,  the VirtuEU 3rd Cycle – Course 7: Open Participation Process was successfully implemented, focusing on the theme “Struggling to Build a Welfare State in Kosovo.” The session provided an academically rigorous platform for discussing key social and institutional challenges related to welfare state formation within a democratic context.

The course was facilitated by Prof. Asst. Besnik Fetahu and coordinated by Prof. Asst. Vjosë Latifi was delivered online between 11:00 and 12:00 (CET). The virtual format enabled the active participation of students and academics from partner universities, creating a shared learning environment that transcended institutional and geographic boundaries.

Through guided discussion and analytical exchange, participants examined critical issues surrounding social protection systems, institutional capacity, and civic participation in Kosovo. The interactive nature of the session encouraged reflective thinking, fostered constructive debate, and strengthened cross-institutional collaboration.

This event reaffirms IBCM’s ongoing commitment to the VirtuEU project, which seeks to promote democratic values, open participation, and civic engagement through academic cooperation and innovative pedagogical approaches. By facilitating inclusive dialogue and collaborative learning, the course contributed meaningfully to the broader objectives of the VirtuEU initiative.