About us
What is LIFE
LIFE from Gjirafa is an education technology institute designed to build software engineers with leadership attributes.
What to Expect
LIFE is changing the way that education is delivered. Within less than a year, you can become a well-rounded developer with all the critical skills to have a long and healthy career in tech.
Free training, tools, and expertise.
The LIFE program aims to create new pathways for a diverse group of tech leaders through high-quality education with an emphasis on deep learning & hands-on experience.
Select, Train, and Employ Top 5% of future engineers with distinguished leadership potential.
To accomplish this purpose, LIFE utilizes a rigorous curriculum that is designed to equip graduates with a full suite of skills that match market demands.
Become a member of Gjirafa team and other partner companies
LIFE graduates can look forward to joining and contributing to the most exciting tech companies, including Gjirafa.
Some quick facts from the first cycle of LIFE (2022-2023)
(F = 469 or 30.3% and
M = 1079 or 69.7%)
(F = 31 or 33.7% and
M = 61 or 66.3%)
(F = 14 or 29% and
M = 35 or 71%)
Profile = BackEnd = 24,
FrontEnd = 16 and
DevOps = 9
(39 in Gjirafa and 10 in KODE Labs)
Our staff
The best instructors with local and international experiences from academia and from the industry.
Ercan Canhasi
PhD
Ercan Canhasi is an associate professor in the Faculty of Computer Science at University of Prizren. Since 2014, he has been engaged as CTO/CSO of Gjirafa, Inc. During 2019-2020 he was a visiting lecturer/associate professor at the Faculty of Artificial Intelligence at University of Groningen, Netherlands. He received a BSC and a MSc degree from Selcuk University. In 2013, Ercan received a PhD degree in Computer Science from the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. He has published a considerable number of scientific papers in SCI indexed journals and conferences.
Ermir Rogova
PhD
Ermir Rogova has finished his studies (undergraduate and postgraduate) in London, UK. In 2010, he received a PhD in Computer Science at the University of Westminster in London, UK, where he has worked as a Computer Science lecturer. Currently, he is an associate professor within the Faculty of Mathematical and Natural Sciences at the University of Prishtina, Department of Computer Science. He is also engaged as an adjunct lecturer at RIT Kosovo (A.U.K). In the past he has lectured and held managerial positions in different HEI in Kosovo. Ermir, has published a considerable number of scientific papers in international journals and conferences and he is co-author of books with some of the most renowned researchers in his professional field.
Fatos Maxhuni
MSc
Fatos Maxhuni is an Information Systems (IS) expert consultant with professional experience in managing the full lifecycle of systems development, plying his trade in Mercedes Benz Finance UK, Kosovo Telecom and is currently part of Bottomline Technologies. He has been a lecturer of Computer Programming since 2003 at University of Prishtina and UBT College in Prishtina. Fatos received a BSc degree in Computer Science from QMW University in London, UK, in 1998 and a MSc degree in Distributed and Multimedia Information Systems from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, UK, in 1999.
Mergim Cahani
MSc & MBA
Mergim Cahani holds a Summa Cum Laude BSc degree in Computer Science from St. John's University, an MSc degree in Computer Science from New York University, and an MBA degree with honours majoring in Executive Management from The Tobin College of Business at St. John’s University, all in New York, USA. His work experience consists of 20 years of experience with startups, technology, management, and investment experience, both in the USA and Kosovo. Mergim is highly active in entrepreneurship and business community, as a mentor, advisor, board member, investor and volunteer, and in the past he has lectured in different HEI in Kosovo. He is the Founder, President & Chief Executive Officer of Gjirafa, Inc.
Jusuf Thaçi
Jusuf Thaçi has been an active contributor in the development of the education sector in Kosovo for more than 15 years. He has been engaged as a monitor and analyst for the educational system at BIRN, and as a project coordinator (an EU funded project) at KEC. He is the founder of ATOMI (an NGO focused on identifying and supporting fellows with extraordinary intelligence, gifted and talented in Kosovo), and led the project/institute during 2011-2020. In 2020 Jusuf served as deputy minister at the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation in Kosovo. Prior, he was the director of the Municipal Education Directory at the Prishtina Municipality. Currently, he is the founder and director of Leadership Institute of Future Engineers (LIFE) from Gjirafa.
During the first cycle of LIFE (2022-2023), in total, over 40 instructors, lecturers, and mentors have been engaged.
Ardi Shatri
MA
Ardi Shatri holds an MA degree in International Economic Policy Analysis from University of Westminster in London, UK. He has worked for four years in the Ministry of Economy and is now currently engaged as a program coordinator for Debate Center and Levizja FOL. Ardi has been engaged as a critical thinking and public speaking trainer since 2011 with more than 10 years of experience in providing capacity building training for high school and university fellows as well as civil society organisations, businesses and politicians
Arianit Maraj
PhD
Arianit Maraj is a cybersecurity expert and university level professor. From 2005 Arianit worked for Telecom of Kosovo. He holds a PhD in Information and Communication Engineering from Polytechnic University of Tirana, Albania. In 2018, Arianit performed Postdoctoral Research Studies at Florida Institute of Technology, USA, as a Fulbright Scholar. He has published a considerable number of scientific papers in international journals and conferences
Armend Shabani
PhD
Armend Shabani is an Associate Professor of Mathematics at the University of Prishtina, Faculty of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Department of Mathematics. He received his Ph. D. in Mathematics at the University of Prishtina in 2016, and now he is engaged as professor in BA and MA levels in mathematics and computer sciences study programs within the Department of Mathematics. Armend serves as referee for several international refereed journals, and he is also a Founder and a Managing Editor of the international journal: Enumerative Combinatorics and Applications.
Arta Misini
PhD(c)
Arta Misini is a teaching assistant and serves as a Head of Teaching at the Faculty of Computer Science at the University of Prizren. Arta received a BSc in Computer Science - Software Design in 2016, and holds a MSc degree in Computer Science and Technologies of Communication in 2018 from University of Prizren. Currently she is pursuing her PhD studies in Computer Science at the South East European University, North Macedonia.
Blerton Abazi
PhD
Blerton Abazi holds a PhD with highest distinction (summa-cum-laude) on Cybersecurity and Information Systems from Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary. Currently, he is professor of Computer Science at UBT College. Blerton is an experienced consultant on cybersecurity, digital transformation, system development, network architecture, data protection, information security policies and network management. Besides academia, he is engaged as consultant for several EU funded projects in the field of ICT on national and international level.
Ercan Canhasi
PhD
Ercan Canhasi is an associate professor in the Faculty of Computer Science at University of Prizren. Since 2014, he has been engaged as CTO/CSO of Gjirafa, Inc. During 2019-2020 he was a visiting lecturer/associate professor at the Faculty of Artificial Intelligence at University of Groningen, Netherlands. He received a BSC and a MSc degree from Selcuk University. In 2013, Ercan received a PhD degree in Computer Science from the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. He has published a considerable number of scientific papers in SCI indexed journals and conferences.
Ermir Rogova
PhD
Ermir Rogova has finished his studies (undergraduate and postgraduate) in London, UK. In 2010, he received a PhD in Computer Science at the University of Westminster in London, UK, where he has worked as a Computer Science lecturer. Currently, he is an associate professor within the Faculty of Mathematical and Natural Sciences at the University of Prishtina, Department of Computer Science. He is also engaged as an adjunct lecturer at RIT Kosovo (A.U.K). In the past he has lectured and held managerial positions in different HEI in Kosovo. Ermir, has published a considerable number of scientific papers in international journals and conferences and he is co-author of books with some of the most renowned researchers in his professional field.
Fatos Maxhuni
MSc
Fatos Maxhuni is an Information Systems (IS) expert consultant with professional experience in managing the full lifecycle of systems development, plying his trade in Mercedes Benz Finance UK, Kosovo Telecom and is currently part of Bottomline Technologies. He has been a lecturer of Computer Programming since 2003 at University of Prishtina and UBT College in Prishtina. Fatos received a BSc degree in Computer Science from QMW University in London, UK, in 1998 and a MSc degree in Distributed and Multimedia Information Systems from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, UK, in 1999.
Mergim Cahani
MSc & MBA
Mergim Cahani holds a Summa Cum Laude BSc degree in Computer Science from St. John's University, an MSc degree in Computer Science from New York University, and an MBA degree with honours majoring in Executive Management from The Tobin College of Business at St. John’s University, all in New York, USA. His work experience consists of 20 years of experience with startups, technology, management, and investment experience, both in the USA and Kosovo. Mergim is highly active in entrepreneurship and business community, as a mentor, advisor, board member, investor and volunteer, and in the past he has lectured in different HEI in Kosovo. He is the Founder, President & Chief Executive Officer of Gjirafa, Inc.
Jusuf Thaçi
Jusuf Thaçi has been an active contributor in the development of the education sector in Kosovo for more than 15 years. He has been engaged as a monitor and analyst for the educational system at BIRN, and as a project coordinator (an EU funded project) at KEC. He is the founder of ATOMI (an NGO focused on identifying and supporting fellows with extraordinary intelligence, gifted and talented in Kosovo), and led the project/institute during 2011-2020. In 2020 Jusuf served as deputy minister at the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation in Kosovo. Prior, he was the director of the Municipal Education Directory at the Prishtina Municipality. Currently, he is the founder and director of Leadership Institute of Future Engineers (LIFE) from Gjirafa.
During the first cycle of LIFE (2022-2023), in total, over 40 instructors, lecturers, and mentors have been engaged.
Ardi Shatri
MA
Ardi Shatri holds an MA degree in International Economic Policy Analysis from University of Westminster in London, UK. He has worked for four years in the Ministry of Economy and is now currently engaged as a program coordinator for Debate Center and Levizja FOL. Ardi has been engaged as a critical thinking and public speaking trainer since 2011 with more than 10 years of experience in providing capacity building training for high school and university fellows as well as civil society organisations, businesses and politicians
Arianit Maraj
PhD
Arianit Maraj is a cybersecurity expert and university level professor. From 2005 Arianit worked for Telecom of Kosovo. He holds a PhD in Information and Communication Engineering from Polytechnic University of Tirana, Albania. In 2018, Arianit performed Postdoctoral Research Studies at Florida Institute of Technology, USA, as a Fulbright Scholar. He has published a considerable number of scientific papers in international journals and conferences
Armend Shabani
PhD
Armend Shabani is an Associate Professor of Mathematics at the University of Prishtina, Faculty of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Department of Mathematics. He received his Ph. D. in Mathematics at the University of Prishtina in 2016, and now he is engaged as professor in BA and MA levels in mathematics and computer sciences study programs within the Department of Mathematics. Armend serves as referee for several international refereed journals, and he is also a Founder and a Managing Editor of the international journal: Enumerative Combinatorics and Applications.
Arta Misini
PhD(c)
Arta Misini is a teaching assistant and serves as a Head of Teaching at the Faculty of Computer Science at the University of Prizren. Arta received a BSc in Computer Science - Software Design in 2016, and holds a MSc degree in Computer Science and Technologies of Communication in 2018 from University of Prizren. Currently she is pursuing her PhD studies in Computer Science at the South East European University, North Macedonia.
Blerton Abazi
PhD
Blerton Abazi holds a PhD with highest distinction (summa-cum-laude) on Cybersecurity and Information Systems from Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary. Currently, he is professor of Computer Science at UBT College. Blerton is an experienced consultant on cybersecurity, digital transformation, system development, network architecture, data protection, information security policies and network management. Besides academia, he is engaged as consultant for several EU funded projects in the field of ICT on national and international level.
Ercan Canhasi
PhD
Ercan Canhasi is an associate professor in the Faculty of Computer Science at University of Prizren. Since 2014, he has been engaged as CTO/CSO of Gjirafa, Inc. During 2019-2020 he was a visiting lecturer/associate professor at the Faculty of Artificial Intelligence at University of Groningen, Netherlands. He received a BSC and a MSc degree from Selcuk University. In 2013, Ercan received a PhD degree in Computer Science from the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. He has published a considerable number of scientific papers in SCI indexed journals and conferences.
Ermir Rogova
PhD
Ermir Rogova has finished his studies (undergraduate and postgraduate) in London, UK. In 2010, he received a PhD in Computer Science at the University of Westminster in London, UK, where he has worked as a Computer Science lecturer. Currently, he is an associate professor within the Faculty of Mathematical and Natural Sciences at the University of Prishtina, Department of Computer Science. He is also engaged as an adjunct lecturer at RIT Kosovo (A.U.K). In the past he has lectured and held managerial positions in different HEI in Kosovo. Ermir, has published a considerable number of scientific papers in international journals and conferences and he is co-author of books with some of the most renowned researchers in his professional field.
Fatos Maxhuni
MSc
Fatos Maxhuni is an Information Systems (IS) expert consultant with professional experience in managing the full lifecycle of systems development, plying his trade in Mercedes Benz Finance UK, Kosovo Telecom and is currently part of Bottomline Technologies. He has been a lecturer of Computer Programming since 2003 at University of Prishtina and UBT College in Prishtina. Fatos received a BSc degree in Computer Science from QMW University in London, UK, in 1998 and a MSc degree in Distributed and Multimedia Information Systems from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, UK, in 1999.
Mergim Cahani
MSc & MBA
Mergim Cahani holds a Summa Cum Laude BSc degree in Computer Science from St. John's University, an MSc degree in Computer Science from New York University, and an MBA degree with honours majoring in Executive Management from The Tobin College of Business at St. John’s University, all in New York, USA. His work experience consists of 20 years of experience with startups, technology, management, and investment experience, both in the USA and Kosovo. Mergim is highly active in entrepreneurship and business community, as a mentor, advisor, board member, investor and volunteer, and in the past he has lectured in different HEI in Kosovo. He is the Founder, President & Chief Executive Officer of Gjirafa, Inc.
Jusuf Thaçi
Jusuf Thaçi has been an active contributor in the development of the education sector in Kosovo for more than 15 years. He has been engaged as a monitor and analyst for the educational system at BIRN, and as a project coordinator (an EU funded project) at KEC. He is the founder of ATOMI (an NGO focused on identifying and supporting fellows with extraordinary intelligence, gifted and talented in Kosovo), and led the project/institute during 2011-2020. In 2020 Jusuf served as deputy minister at the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation in Kosovo. Prior, he was the director of the Municipal Education Directory at the Prishtina Municipality. Currently, he is the founder and director of Leadership Institute of Future Engineers (LIFE) from Gjirafa.
During the first cycle of LIFE (2022-2023), in total, over 40 instructors, lecturers, and mentors have been engaged.
gjirafa.com
GjirafaTech
gjirafa50.com
gjirafaMall.com
KODE Labs
Radix
EYE Project