UBT Successfully Organized the First International Conference on Sports Medicine
24/10/2025At the UBT Innovation, Science, and Technology Park in Lipjan, the First International Conference on Sports Medicine (IC-SM 2025) was successfully held — a high-level event marking a historic milestone for the development of this field in Kosovo and the region.
The conference gathered prominent international figures in sports medicine, including Prof. Dr. Fabio Pigozzi (Italy), President of the International Federation of Sports Medicine (FIMS); Prof. Dr. Norbert Bachl (Austria); Annika Hangleiter, M.Sc. from the Technical University of Munich (Germany); and Prof. Dr. Gobert von Skrbensky (Austria), along with many national and international experts.
In his opening address, UBT President, Prof. Dr. Edmond Hajrizi, emphasized that since its establishment, UBT has been dedicated to knowledge, innovation, and the creation of a smart society where science, technology, and practice merge to create sustainable impact.
“Sports Medicine is one of the fields that best embodies this philosophy — combining health, education, performance, and technological innovation,” said Prof. Hajrizi, highlighting that through the establishment of the UBT Center for Sports Medicine, a new chapter has begun for the development of this field in Kosovo.
He further noted that thanks to this initiative, Kosovo has officially become a member of the International Federation of Sports Medicine (FIMS) through the Kosovo Association of Sports and Exercise Medicine (KASEM) — a historic achievement that places Kosovo among more than 117 member countries of this prestigious organization.
In his keynote remarks, Prof. Dr. Fabio Pigozzi, President of FIMS, praised UBT’s contribution to the advancement of sports medicine and underlined the importance of international cooperation in fostering research and clinical practice in the field.
Opening remarks were also delivered by Fitim Arifi, representative of the Kosovo Olympic Committee; Agim Ademi, President of the Football Federation of Kosovo; Agim Krasniqi, President of KASEM; and Iber Alaj, Director of the Department of Sports at the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports.
Keynote Sessions
The main part of the conference featured scientific sessions and keynote lectures, including:
Prof. Dr. Fabio Pigozzi (Italy) – Sudden Cardiac Death in Sports and Exercise
Prof. Dr. Norbert Bachl (Austria) – Sports Medicine as a Specialty in Europe: Shaping Precise Prevention
Prof. Dr. Edmond Hajrizi (Kosovo) – UBT Smart City: An Integrated Platform of Emerging Technologies and Smart Support for Sports Medicine Education, Research, Innovation, and Clinical Services
Annika Hangleiter, M.Sc. (Germany) – Wearable Technologies in Personalized Prevention: The Future is Already Present
Prof. Dr. Gobert von Skrbensky (Austria) – Concepts in Sports Surgery Following Knee Trauma: The Role of Activity Level and Biological Age
Research Presentations
The second session of the conference, chaired by Dr. Milaim Berisha and Dr. Agron Thaqi, featured peer-reviewed scientific papers, including:
The New Era FitScore Test: A Comprehensive General Fitness Assessment – Era Deva, Milaim Berisha
The Success Ratio of Non-Surgical Management of Proximal Hamstring Injury in Judo: The Case of Olympic Gold Medalist – Nora Gjakova, Milaim Berisha
Beyond Consensus, Into Action: Kosovo’s Response to Elite Athlete Mental Health Challenges – L.J., Zhu., J., Hell & V. Klissouras
Comparative Analysis of Body Composition in Elderly Residents of Nursing Homes in Kosovo – Agron Thaqi
A Platform for Scientific and Professional Collaboration
The IC-SM 2025 Conference served as a vital international platform for collaboration, professional exchange, and presentation of the latest global trends and innovations in sports medicine.
The event aimed to foster scientific research, innovation in rehabilitation, professional education, and the creation of international networks in the fields of sports and health.
The conference was organized by UBT, in cooperation and with the support of:
- Kosovo Association of Sports and Exercise Medicine (KASEM)
- International Federation of Sports Medicine (FIMS)
- Kosovo Olympic Committee
- Sport, Health and the People – A Western Balkan University Network (SHAPE Project)
The IC-SM 2025 Conference was widely regarded as the beginning of a new scientific tradition in Kosovo, positioning the country on the international map of research in Sports Medicine and Public Health.