The Department of Turkish Language and Literature was established in 1988. As a basic teaching and research unit, the Department of Turkish Language and Literature develops, administers, and coordinates teaching and scientific research in the field of Turkish Language and Literature. The BA program in Turkish Language and Literature is designed based on the labor market needs in Kosovo, offering various employment opportunities such as teaching, translation, administrative positions, archival work, media lecturing, etc. The Department, which operates within the Faculty of Philology, has designed this program as a foundational qualification in Turkish linguistics and literature, complemented by courses that enable qualification in the field of Turkish language teaching methodology and didactics, both as a native and foreign language, since a significant portion of Turkish Language and Literature graduates work in educational institutions (universities, public and private schools, Turkish language courses).

The Turkish Language and Literature Department’s Bachelor's program aims to provide students with fundamental knowledge of linguistic theory and methodology and to enable them to apply theory in practical teaching. Additionally, this program aims to support scientific research, with the goal of implementing ideas and projects that contribute to improving human life and society as a whole.

Developing an academic culture for the Turkish language

Establishing a foundation for Turkish literature

Providing an understanding of the historical development and geographical spread of the Turkish language

Offering fundamental knowledge of the contacts between the Turkish language and Balkan languages

Researching Turkish folkloric materials in Kosovo

Acquiring basic pedagogical skills for Turkish language and literature

Establishing a foundation for translation theories

The Bachelor's and Master's study programs in Turkish Language and Literature are fully aligned with the objectives and mission of this Higher Education Institution. The Department of Turkish Language and Literature offers a study program that complies with the "Law on Higher Education in the Republic of Kosovo."

The study programs have clearly defined objectives for shaping students within the program, including the knowledge, skills, and professional competencies they should acquire upon completion of the program, which characterize the program profile. The program offered by this department provides students with a well-defined intellectual formation and helps them acquire stable knowledge that will serve as a solid foundation for their careers in the years to come. Formal policies, guidelines, regulations regarding procedural matters, such as the study regulations at this level, the regulation on staff election, re-election, and advancement, the code of ethics, syllabi, and other relevant documents are publicly available on the faculty and university websites. These documents are accessible to all, including staff and students.

The primary goal of the Turkish Language and Literature study program is the professional education and preparation of students to become professional teachers in the field of Turkish language and literature teaching. Additionally, it aims to prepare them as translators and archive researchers. The Department has made efforts to design a curriculum that aligns with labor market needs. Based on investments, it has been found that, with the reality created in Kosovo due to the opening of the Turkish college MAARİF VAKFI and the increasing presence of major Turkish companies, there is a rising demand for translators and teachers of Turkish, as well as for employees who know the language in these companies. As a result, knowledge of Turkish provides students with significant opportunities for integration into the job market.

The development policies of the Department, in drafting this curriculum, are based on the country's economic development and the demands of the labor market. Quality management can be ensured with a stable legislative infrastructure for various aspects of studies at this level, dedicated to both academic staff and students. At the same time, an effective communication and internal monitoring network for students, academic, and administrative staff is necessary.

The Department of Turkish Language and Literature holds regular meetings at specific intervals and whenever necessary, where topics related to the department's academic work are discussed. The Department continuously supports quality development in coordination with the academic unit it operates within and the hierarchy up to the highest management of the University of Pristina.

The Department of Turkish Language and Literature, after the operationalization of the Kosovo Accreditation Agency (AKA), has managed to accredit the BA-MA program and re-accredit it, which has enabled the department to build a base for compiling documentation for re-accreditation. The Department of Turkish Language and Literature, during every accreditation of its BA and MA programs, has achieved its objectives and respected the recommendations set by both local and international quality measurement experts.

The Department of Turkish Language and Literature has been re-accredited four times since the operationalization of the AKA.

The Department, throughout its operation, has considered labor market needs and the requirements for the advancement of academic staff. For this reason, the Department has developed numerous collaborations with various research, scientific, and academic institutions related to the field of Turkology. Notable collaborations include organizing international conferences at the University of Pristina, cooperation with the Yunus Emre Institute in Ankara and its representative office in Kosovo, cooperation with TİKA, the Turkish Embassy in Pristina, and projects carried out with the Turkish Language Institute based in Ankara.

Regarding employment data, the statistics mentioned earlier show that graduates have succeeded in teaching (as teachers, professors, assistants). The success of the graduates is also evident in independent scientific research, especially in the field of translation.

Graduates from the Department of Turkish Language and Literature have found employment in various institutions in Kosovo. They hold various professional and managerial positions in their workplaces. The Department maintains contact with most of its graduates and possesses information about their achievements.

Prof. Dr. Ergin Jable is the head of the department ([email protected]). Prof. Assoc. Dr. Esin Hydaverdi is the department secretary ([email protected]).

Currently, there are 5 Ph.D. holders in the Department of Turkish Language and Literature.

The Department continuously supports staff development needs, such as teaching exchanges, participation in research projects, and participation in scientific conferences. The department organizes conferences, symposiums, congresses, etc. Academic staff adheres to the full work schedule, and in addition to teaching, each academic staff member holds student consultations at least twice a week.

The planning of the Department of Turkish Language and Literature ensures full inclusion of teaching strategies and adaptation of relevant literature. Academic staff participate in various teaching trainings organized by the University of Pristina itself. Additionally, academic staff participate in various trainings organized by higher education institutions in Turkey.

1. Project

Two important projects involving Turkish language and literature lecturers, as well as some of our students.

 -In the project "Atlas of Dialects of Turkish in Turkey," which is conducted by the Turkish Language Institution (Türk Dil Kurumu) 2024

- In the project "Grammer and oral Reserch in Kosovo/Processing of Kosovo Turkish Dialectes," which was carried out by TIKA in 2022.

MA Program - Turkish Language and Literature

BA program_Turkish Language and Literature