Shkolla Digjitale (Digital School), one of the most innovative initiatives in the region for technological education for children and young people, is expected to expand next year with a new location in Austria. Vienna will become the following franchise site, joining more than 40 centres already operating worldwide. With a system fully translated into German, the school aims to introduce a modern teaching approach to a market often described as slow in adopting new technologies.

The founder of Shkolla Digjitale, Darsej Rizaj from Prishtina, shared details about the new Vienna centre in an interview with Hajde.

“I believe every parent should understand that digital education is the literacy of the future. In the next 10 years, every child should be prepared to understand the basics of technology, not merely to use it, but to comprehend how it works and what its capacities are,” Rizaj said.

Photo taken at Shkolla Digjitale in Prishtina (Kosovo)

Children today live in a technology-rich world and therefore must be equipped with the tools to understand it as thoroughly as possible. “I believe market entry will be easier than expected. The courses differ significantly from the education children receive in traditional schools,” Rizaj told Hajde.

He further emphasised that technology is transforming every profession globally, making technological education an urgent necessity.

Regarding tuition fees at Shkolla Digjitale, Rizaj noted that the market dictates prices. “A maximum of three academic hours per week, the format will be either in-person or online, but not hybrid. The online format does not differ significantly from physical attendance,” he explained.

The educational methodology of Shkolla Digjitale represents a key innovation that the school is bringing from Kosovo to Europe.

Despite receiving no support from the state or international organisations, Shkolla Digjitale has managed to compete with major American companies that possess substantial financial power.

“Our competition has been based on knowledge, on brains. We have made our platform the most innovative. The teaching model itself is an innovation of Shkolla Digjitale,” Rizaj said.

Artificial intelligence has transformed technology, with demands and needs evolving at an extraordinary pace. “Children who are prepared to work with digital products have greater opportunities. What Shkolla Digjitale offers is the preparation of a generation that is not only technologically literate, but also creative,” Rizaj stated.

He further stressed that retraining will be essential for the existing workforce, which risks becoming obsolete quickly due to rapid technological advancements.

Photo taken at Shkolla Digjitale in Prishtina (Kosovo)

The ‘Edutainment’ Platform

Edutainment is the fusion of entertainment and education, making learning more engaging by integrating games and fun activities (gamification) to help children acquire new knowledge more easily.

Thanks to artificial intelligence, the platform has undergone rapid development over the past five years. Shkolla Digjitale also operates a dedicated Research and Development (R&D) department focused exclusively on innovations in educational technology.

Additionally, Shkolla Digjitale maintains a strategic partnership with Berlitz, a 150-year-old corporation and global leader in foreign language education, with more than 500 locations worldwide.

“Through gamification, learning through games and entertainment, children can grasp new concepts more effectively,” said Darsej Rizaj.

Shkolla Digjitale is a private company specialising in training and educating children and adolescents aged 8 to 18 in technology and programming.

With the motto “Improvise CODE Overcome,” the school’s vision is to equip children and teenagers with the skills to succeed in today’s world, where every profession requires digital competencies.

Darsej Rizaj and Hana Qerimi are the co-founders of the school, which is now present in over 40 centres worldwide.