RIT Kosovo Hosts the First Regional Workshop on AI “Shaping Tomorrow: The Role of AI on Future Generations”

October 17, 2024 – RIT Kosovo hosted the first regional workshop on artificial intelligence (AI) - "Shaping Tomorrow: The Impact of AI on Future Generations," in partnership with the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP). The event brought together prominent speakers from the field of technology, education, defense, and industry to explore the transformative potential of AI and its impact on society, with the keynote address delivered by Mr. Ylli Bajraktari, President and CEO of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

The first panel, AI and the Economy: Harnessing AI for Economic Growth, moderated by Dr. Venera Demukaj, Assistant Professor of Economics at RIT Kosovo (A.U.K), brought together Mergim Cahani, Founder and CEO of Gjirafa Inc.; Elvin Guri, CEO of Invenio Partners; Lulezon Jagxhiu, Chief Technology Officer, Office of the Prime Minister of Kosovo; and Edmond Shyti, Project Management Specialist at USAID Kosovo. This session explored how AI is driving economic transformation, fostering innovation, and reshaping workforce dynamics. Panelists emphasized AI’s potential to accelerate economic growth in the Balkans and globally, while highlighting the importance of ethical practices and workforce readiness. The second panel, AI and Education: Transforming Learning and Teaching for the Future, moderated by Michael E. Hess, Adjunct Faculty at RIT Kosovo (A.U.K) examined how AI is revolutionizing education. Featured speakers included Dr. Cecilia Alm, Joint Artificial Intelligence Program Director at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Dr. Albina Balidemaj, Dean of Faculty at RIT Kosovo, Bonnie Glick, Resident Fellow at Harvard University and former Deputy Administrator of USAID, and Shaun Foster, Professor of 3D Digital Design at RIT). Panelists discussed the integration of AI into curricula, personalized learning models, and the future of education in an AI-driven world.

In the third session, AI and the Military: A Regional Perspective on Defense and Security, moderated by Hina Gir, Director at SCSP, practitioners and industry leaders in defense discussed AI's growing role in military operations and security. Speakers included RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, Senior Director, Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation, Lt. Col. Korab Dauti, Kosovo Security Force, Enton Sadiku, Director, National Authority for Classified Information Security in Albania, and Shpend Bytyqi, Executive Director of Tenzor. The panel focused on AI’s applications in defense strategies, intelligence gathering, and cybersecurity, with an emphasis on regional security challenges. The final panel, AI and Careers: Creating an AI-Enabled Workforce, moderated by Teuta Avdimetaj, Chief Development Officer and Adjunct Faculty at RIT Kosovo (A.U.K) addressed the workforce implications of AI. Ofir Zigelman, Principal Product Manager at Amazon Web Services, Branko Džakula, Information Security Advisor and Educator, Dr. Diana Gelhaus, Director at SCSP, and Olgerta Prendi, Cyber Incident Specialist, National Cyber Security Authority, Albania, discussed the evolving job market and the skills necessary to thrive in an AI-driven future.

The workshop concluded with a powerful keynote from Mr. Ylli Bajraktari, President and CEO of the Special Competitive Studies Project. In his remarks on AI's transformative potential, Mr. Bajraktari spoke about the importance of the strong partnership between RIT Kosovo and SCSP in leveraging AI opportunities and addressing the challenges of integration. He underscored their shared commitment to preparing future generations for an AI-driven world through collaboration across academia, industry, and policy. In addition to these insightful discussions, attendees participated in a networking session, where they engaged with representatives from leading tech companies in Kosovo to explore potential collaborations and innovations in AI.

This activity is funded by the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP) as part of the grant titled “Bridging National Security Challenges and AI-Driven Global Initiatives.”