The KAEF educational fund supports educational programs that provide Kosovo's future leaders with the tools they need to promote the country's future prosperity.
KAEF fellowships are open to all eligible applicants, and are awarded through a merit-based competition. Fellows study in master's level programs for one or two years, obtain a degree, and participate in professional internships.
To be eligible, applicants must be citizens of Kosovo, proficient in written and spoken English, and committed to returning to Kosovo after completion of the program.
The Kosovo American Education Fund (KAEF) is dedicated to the long-term economic development of Kosovo through the education of its people. KAEF provides up to 8 graduate fellowships per year to promising Kosovars for top-level training at select U.S. universities.
To date, 43 universities have hosted KAEF Fellows, including Yale University, Colorado State University, University of Missouri, Columbia, and Brandeis University. Aside from providing KAEF Fellows a top-notch education, our university partners also provide tuition cost-sharing.
Without exception, KAEF Fellows have performed at a high academic level. In addition, KAEF Fellows receive an opportunity for valuable practical experience, including:
KAEF Fellows have served with, among other organizations, Dell Computers, the World Bank, Voice of America, the International Finance Corporation, the Duke Center for International Development, and the Xerox Corporation.
KAEF provides funds for all aspects of applicants and Fellows' participation in the program. Applying to the program is free. KAEF Fellows receive:
The KAEF Program does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic origin, age, race, color, gender, religion or disability. Persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. Competition for the KAEF Program is merit-based and open to anyone who meets the following requirements:
Applicants whom have already earned a Master's degree from a U.S. university will not be considered.
Selection of KAEF Fellows is a three-step process:
The KAEF program does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic origin, age, race, color, gender, religion, or disability. Competition for the KAEF program is merit-based and open to anyone.
There are currently 86 alumni of the KAEF program that have successfully completed all aspects of the program and returned to Kosovo.
Growing up in a decade of constant change and turmoil has made me realize the importance of good leadership and the consequences that come from the lack of it. It was, in fact, this realization that influenced my decision not to stand idly by the processes that affect the future of my society, but instead to engage them proactively.
2007-2008
Returning to Kosovo and being part of the team entrusted with the mission of promoting sustained economic growth requires a vast understanding of business matters and all the factors involved in the process - social, political, international. I strongly believe the programs offered by the top-notch universities of the KAEF Program will provide me with the theoretical framework and practical skills necessary to bring a significant contribution to the advancement of Kosovo's business environment.
2007-2009
My goal is to attain such a level of knowledge and competence that [I could] manage large scale information systems and projects, on the one hand, and contribute to the overall business management of companies, on the other . . . I have chosen the US for my MBA studies because I believe that the US has the best management schools, with practically-oriented courses that prepare students for real-life management challenges.
2006-2008
Today, KAEF is supported largely through the charitable support of individual Kosovars, Americans, and American universities.
