Assist Prof. Dr. Besnik Qehaja | Innovation Strategy | Best Innovation Award

Assist Prof. Dr. Besnik Qehaja, University for Business and Technology, Albania.

Prof. Assoc. Dr. Besnik Qehaja is a leading academic and digital innovation strategist based in Pristina, Kosovo. Currently serving as the Dean of the Computer Science and Engineering Department at UBT College, he is widely recognized for his pioneering work in digital transformation in education and telemedicine. With a PhD from Corvinus University of Budapest and a solid academic foundation in Software Engineering and Telecommunications, he has actively led program accreditations and educational technology implementations. Dr. Qehaja combines technical mastery with strategic vision, spearheading initiatives in AI, IoT, and smart city infrastructure. A dynamic educator and researcher, his leadership has played a crucial role in elevating Kosovo’s higher education sector. Through his contributions to digital pedagogy, LMS systems, and VR/AR in education, he continues to innovate for inclusive, intelligent, and impactful learning ecosystems.

👨‍🏫 Profile

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🎓 Education

Dr. Besnik Qehaja’s academic path reflects a strong foundation in digital innovation and educational technology. He earned his Bachelor’s in Computer Science and Engineering with a focus on Computer Networks and Telecommunications, followed by a Master’s degree in Software Engineering and Telecommunications from the University for Business and Technology in Kosovo. His academic excellence culminated in a PhD in Information and Communication Technologies from Corvinus University of Budapest. His doctoral thesis, “The Framework of a Real-Time Patient Monitoring System (Case Study: Kosovo),” focused on telemedicine and real-time data analytics, a pioneering research area that bridges health informatics and AI-driven digital systems. Dr. Qehaja’s academic background positions him uniquely at the intersection of technology, digital education, and healthcare transformation. His lifelong learning journey continues to fuel his innovative approaches in developing e-learning systems, smart educational platforms, and scalable IoT infrastructure for smart cities and intelligent classrooms.

💼 Experience

Dr. Qehaja has a proven track record in both academia and large-scale digital implementation. Since 2009, he has held various senior academic and administrative roles at UBT College, including Lecturer, Program Coordinator, and currently, Dean of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. He played a pivotal role in securing long-term accreditations for Bachelor and Master programs across multiple campuses. As a project leader, he spearheaded digital infrastructure projects such as QR-based student tracking systems, IoT-based smart city platforms, and Learning Management System (LMS) deployments. His role as a Foreign Systems Analyst with M4Health Germany, working on Kosovo’s national e-health feasibility study, demonstrates his cross-sectoral expertise. Notably, Dr. Qehaja has led national-level VR/AR and AI integration projects, significantly advancing Kosovo’s academic digitalization. His project leadership extends to change management, ensuring technological transitions are smooth, strategic, and inclusive for educators and learners alike.

🔬 Research Interests

Dr. Besnik Qehaja’s research interests span digital transformation, educational technology, telemedicine, IoT applications, AI-driven analytics, and smart learning environments. At the core of his research is the strategic use of technology to enhance real-time decision-making, monitoring, and learning. His doctoral focus on telemedicine has matured into a broader inquiry into health informatics, with particular attention to system interoperability and secure data migration in national health systems. In the educational domain, Dr. Qehaja explores AI for predictive learning models, IoT-enabled connected classrooms, and the development of adaptive learning systems. He also leads research on data privacy, LMS design, and inclusive digital pedagogy. As a technologist and strategist, he is passionate about building intelligent, equitable, and scalable systems that address both human and institutional needs. His current projects involve Smart City IoT eco-platforms and cross-institutional digital integration, contributing impactful research in the European EdTech and eHealth landscapes.

🏆 Awards & Distinctions

Dr. Qehaja’s leadership in technology-enabled education and system innovation has earned him widespread recognition. He successfully led his faculty through national accreditation processes for both Bachelor’s and Master’s programs—an achievement that secured 5-year accreditation in both Pristina and Prizren. He also served as the head of Kosovo’s eHealth feasibility study implementation, a landmark initiative involving Germany’s M4Health and the Ministry of Health. His efforts were pivotal in laying the digital groundwork for national-level healthcare infrastructure. Additionally, Dr. Qehaja is a certified Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality trainer by EON Reality, where he trained faculty and implemented immersive learning in education. He has received internal awards for excellence in curriculum design, project leadership, and contributions to digital pedagogy at UBT College. With several international conference roles and advisory board positions, his career has been marked by a consistent commitment to innovation, collaboration, and digital inclusion.