Q: Flamur, looking back at your time as a student at IBCM, what originally drew you to this institution and the Bachelor's in Environmental and Agricultural Management program?
Flamur Abazaj: My attraction to IBCM was rooted in its unique positioning within the Kosovo educational landscape. Growing up with an international background, having been born in Germany and spent a pivotal year of high school in the United States, I was looking for an academic environment that mirrored that global perspective. IBCM offered a vocational, international approach that was quite rare at the time. The Environmental and Agricultural Management program specifically appealed to my interest in sustainability. Mitrovica, with its complex industrial history, felt like the perfect "living laboratory" to study how environmental protection and economic development could coexist. I saw it as a chance to gain practical skills that were directly applicable to the challenges my community faced, rather than just learning theory from a textbook.
Q: You were a student between 2011 and 2015. How would you describe the atmosphere at IBCM during those formative years?
Flamur Abazaj: It was an incredibly vibrant and multi-ethnic environment. IBCM was established with a mission to bridge divides, and as a student, you felt that daily. We weren’t just studying business or management; we were learning how to communicate across cultures. My classes were small and interactive, which allowed for deep discussions with lecturers who often came from international backgrounds. This diversity wasn't just a policy; it was our reality. It reminded me of my high school experience in the US, where my roommate was from Belgrade. We had to navigate our differences and find common ground. At IBCM, that spirit of reconciliation and cooperation was baked into the curriculum and the campus life, creating a sense of being part of something larger than just a college.
Q: Transitioning from a student to an alumnus is one thing, but returning as a lecturer and eventually a Dean is another. What was your first professional step after graduation?
Flamur Abazaj: After finishing my Bachelor’s in 2015, I didn't stop learning. I spent time working on various multi-ethnic projects and activities, both within Kosovo and internationally. These experiences reinforced the "theory to practice" philosophy that IBCM champions. My work in the field, particularly in environmental analysis and public administration, gave me a grounded perspective on the labor market. I eventually pursued a Master of Arts in Education at Anglia Ruskin University in the UK. This was a turning point because it combined my technical background with a passion for pedagogy. It became clear to me that I wanted to contribute back to the academic community that had shaped me, which eventually led me back to IBCM. Currently, I am a PhD candidate at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Q: You later completed an MSc in International Management and Leadership at IBCM as well. How did it feel to be back in the classroom as a student after having started your professional career?
Flamur Abazaj: It was a full-circle moment. Returning for my MSc between 2020 and 2021 was a strategic choice. By then, I was already moving into roles involving more responsibility, and I needed to sharpen my leadership and management skills. Being a student again allowed me to see the college through two different lenses: as a legacy alumnus who knew the "old days" and as a professional who understood what current students needed to succeed in a competitive market. It also allowed me to specialize in Environmental Management at a higher level, bridging my undergraduate roots with my future career in academic administration. It gave me a unique empathy for our current students,I knew exactly what their late nights and project deadlines felt like.
Q: How did your experience with the Kosovo Accreditation Agency (KAA) influence your approach to your current role as Dean?
Flamur Abazaj: Working with the KAA and representing them in the Global Academic Integrity Network (GAIN) was transformative. It gave me a high-level view of quality assurance and the importance of academic standards. I wasn't just looking at one classroom; I was looking at the entire national and international framework of education. In my role as Dean, I apply those lessons every day. I understand that for a degree to be valuable, it must meet rigorous standards of integrity and relevance. It taught me that education is a strong instrument for every social process, including reconciliation. My time there reinforced my commitment to ensuring that IBCM’s Faculty of Social Sciences remains a beacon of quality and ethical leadership in the region.
Q: As the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, what is your primary vision for the faculty over the next few years?
Flamur Abazaj: My vision is to solidify our faculty as a hub for research-driven, socially responsible education. We aren't just producing graduates; we are nurturing "change-makers." I want our Public Administration and Welfare programs to be the gold standard for vocational training in the Western Balkans. This means deepening our ties with international partners and ensuring our research,whether it's on environmental impacts or social welfare,has a tangible effect on policy in Kosovo. I want our students to leave here not just with a diploma, but with a portfolio of projects that prove they can solve real-world problems. We are building on the legacy of IBCM while innovating to meet the demands of a changing world.
Q: You have mentioned that "the world is a very big place but at the same time very small." How does this philosophy guide your leadership style?
Flamur Abazaj: That philosophy encourages a culture of openness and networking. As Dean, I try to make the "big world" accessible to our students through international exchanges and guest lectures. At the same time, I remind them that the "small world" means their actions here in Mitrovica can have a ripple effect. I lead with the belief that we should meet as many people as possible and learn even from those we don't get along with. I encourage a "flat" hierarchy where students feel they can approach me. I want them to see that the path from student to Dean isn't a climb up a lonely ladder, but a journey through a wide-reaching network of mentors and peers.
Q: How do you handle the pressure of being a young Dean in an institution with such a significant social mission?
Flamur Abazaj: I don't see my age as a barrier; I see it as an advantage. It allows me to bridge the gap between our veteran faculty and our Gen Z students. I feel a great sense of responsibility because IBCM isn't just a school; it's a project for the future of Kosovo. I handle the pressure by staying focused on the students. Whenever things get tough administratively, I go back to the classroom or talk to the alumni. Seeing their success reminds me why we do this. I also rely heavily on my colleagues. Leadership at IBCM is a team effort; we are all committed to the same goal of regional stability through education.
Q: What is your favorite memory from your time as an IBCM student?
Flamur Abazaj: It’s hard to pick just one, but the study trips and international conferences stand out. There was a specific moment during a collaborative project where we were working with students from different backgrounds to solve a local environmental issue. We were arguing, debating, and eventually, we came to a solution that none of us could have reached alone. That "aha!" moment, where the diversity of the group became our greatest strength,is something I’ll never forget. It’s the moment I realized that IBCM’s mission wasn't just a slogan; it was a functional reality that changed how I saw the world.
Q: Finally, what is your message to a first-year student walking through the doors of IBCM today, dreaming of one day being in your shoes?
Flamur Abazaj: My message is simple:
Be open-minded and keep going. Don’t be afraid to fail, and don’t be afraid to speak to people who are different from you. The world is waiting for you, but you have to be ready to engage with it. Use every resource this college gives you, the library, the international lecturers, the internships. Your time here is the foundation for everything that comes next. I was sitting where you are not that long ago. If you stay curious and committed to your community, there is no limit to where you can go. Just remember: the world is big, but it’s also small enough for you to make a real difference.
