The 1st International Occupational Therapy Congress in Kosovo was held in Prishtina on the 21st-22nd November, 2025. With nearly 200 participants this event was a remarkable milestone for the profession in Kosovo. The congress brought together international expertise, clinical practice, research, interdisciplinary dialogue, and forward-looking discussions that reflected the growing strength of occupational therapy in Kosovo. Currently there are over 100 occupational therapists in the country and around 30 students.
The welcome speech of Mr. Ademi – Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation at the opening ceremony not only represented recognition for the profession in Kosovo but also marked an important step toward strengthening the connection between education, scientific research, and professional practice. There was also a keynote by WFOT President Samantha Shann “Transforming Health and Wellbeing: Positioning and Developing Occupational Therapy” which gave inspiration to the advocacy and development of the profession in Kosovo.
Parallel sessions included national and international presentations and also two workshops. On the first day, COTEC President Anu Söderström led a workshop on “Advocacy and Promoting the Occupational Therapy Profession Using Elevator Pitches”.
Participants explored how to communicate the value of Occupational Therapy with clarity, confidence, and purpose. This hands-on session encouraged everyone to find their voice as advocates for the profession and the many possibilities and audiences for advocacy were identified.
The day ended with the keynote by Anu Söderström entitled “Occupational Therapy Workforce – Where we need to be”
At the end of the second day a Panel Discussion brought together practitioners, educators, and leaders to reflect on a key question: “How can Occupational Therapy be effectively incorporated into primary healthcare institutions and schools?”
The moderated discussion highlighted themes such as:
- the growing need for occupational therapy within community and school-based settings
- opportunities for multidisciplinary collaboration
- the value of early identification and intervention
- policy and system-level changes that are needed to support integration of care
- the importance of raising awareness of occupational therapist´s role in promoting participation, independence and wellbeing
The audience raised several questions to the panelists who shared their real experiences from practice, challenges, and forward-thinking ideas that emphasised how essential occupational therapy is to creating inclusive environments where individuals of all ages can live a meaningful life.
As part of the 1st International Occupational Therapy Congress in Kosovo, participants also had the opportunity to explore an Interactive OT Room, designed to showcase Occupational Therapy across different practice settings. Students and professionals presented activities, tools, equipment, and therapeutic strategies that highlight the essence of occupational therapy empowering individuals to engage in meaningful and purposeful activities. The interactive room was especially interesting to the delegates from other professions but it also inspired occupational therapists to think about the means how we can communicate the value of our profession.
On the second day Presidents of both WFOT and COTEC had a working lunch with the Presidents and Vice Presidents of the two associations: Instituti Kosovar i Ergoterapisë and Shoqata e Ergoterapeutëve të Kosovës. The international organisations support the formation of one National Occupational Therapy Association which would mean a historic step for the development of occupational therapy in Kosovo creating a stronger, united voice for all occupational therapists in the country. The discussions at the meeting were very promising and showed a good will to establish a single unified association.
