Albania

Albania in a nutshell

Source : http://www.cia.gov

Albania, officially the Republic of Albania, is a Mediterranean country in South Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Montenegro to the north, Kosovo to the northeast, Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south-east. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the west, and on the Ionian Sea to the southwest. It is less than 72 km (45 mi) from Italy, across the Strait of Otranto which links the Adriatic Sea to the Ionian Sea.

Albania is a member of the United Nations, NATO, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Council of Europe, World Trade Organisation, Organisation of the Islamic Conference and one of the founding members of the Union for the Mediterranean. Albania has been a potential candidate for accession to the European Union since January 2003, and it formally applied for EU membership on 28 April 2009.[4]

Albania is a parliamentary democracy and a transition economy. The Albanian capital, Tirana, is home to approximately 895,000 of the country's 3.6 million people, and it is also the financial capital of the country.[5] Free-market reforms have opened the country to foreign investment, especially in the development of energy and transportation infrastructure.

(Sourced from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albania)

Albania education policy

(sourced from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Albania)

The literacy rate in Albania for the total population, age 9 or older, is about 99%. Elementary education is compulsory (grades 1-9), but most students continue at least until a secondary education. Students must successfully pass graduation exams at the end of the 9th grade and at the end of the 12th grade in order to continue their education.

Most schools are public and financed through the government, but recently several private schools of various levels have been opened.

There are about 5000 schools throughout the country.

The academic year is divided into two semesters. The school week begins on Monday and ends on Friday. Depending on the academic level, the school year usually begins in September or October and finishes around June or July. There is a winter break of about two weeks.

• Preschool education (çerdhe or kopësht): 1–4 years
• Primary education (9-vjeçare): 9 years (8 years prior to 2008)
• Secondary education:
  • Regular (e mesme or gjimnaz): 3 years
  • Vocational or Technical (teknike): 2–5 years
• Tertiary education:
  • Bachelor and Master degrees (of 3 years and 1.5–2 years respectively
• Quaternary education (doktoratë): 3 years

Higher education

The lists below are taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_in_Albania

HEIs in Albania

Public Universities

Universities in Tirana

1. University of Tirana
2. Polytechnic University of Tirana
3. Agricultural University of Tirana
4. University of Sports of Tirana - former Academy of Physical and Sports Education Vojo Kushi - DCM 123 of February 17, 2010
5. University of Arts - former Academy of Arts - DCM of March 23, 2011
6. Skanderbeg Military University

Universities in Korçë

• Fan Noli University

Universities in Shkodër

• Luigj Gurakuqi University of Shkodër

Universities in Durrës

• Aleksander Moisiu University

Universities in Gjirokastër

• Eqerem Çabej University

Universities in Vlora

1. University of Vlora
2. Military School in Vlora

Universities in Elbasan

• Aleksandër Xhuvani University

Private Universities

1. Marin Barleti University, Tirana
2. University of New York Tirana
3. European University of Tirana
4. Luarasi University, Tirana
5. Kristal University, Tirana
6. Polis University ([1])
7. Ufo University, Tirana
8. Zoja e Këshillit të Mirë, Tirana
9. Marubi film school, Tirana
10. Justiniani I
11. Sevasti&Parashqevi Qiriazi
12. Justicia University
13. Wisdom University
14. Aldent
15. Medikadent
16. Epoka University
17. Luigj Benussi
18. ISSAT
19. Nehemia University Pogradec
20. Shkolla e Lartë Europiane për Turizmin
21. Nëna Mbretëreshë, Geraldinë
22. Illyria University
23. Dentarium - Al Private college
24. High School Mediterranean of Albania
25. Ivoclar Vivadent&Partners College
26. Universiteti Pavarësia Vlorë
27. Shkolla e Lartë Ndërkombëtare e Tiranës
28. Vitrina University
29. New Generation University
30. Medicom University
31. Universiteti Planetar i Tiranës
32. Logos University

Other academic institutions

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_of_Sciences_of_Albania

Quality assurance

See the description in English at http://www.aaal.edu.al/pagesEN/pages/AAHE.htm

See also:

• Bozo, D., Tamo, A. & Hafizi, M., 2005. Guidelines on External Examination of Quality in Higher Education, Tirana. Available at: http://www.aaal.edu.al/pagesEN/pages/Manual_foreign_estimat.htm.

Virtual Campuses in HE

Re.ViCa Case-study

None.

References

There is an excellent survey article relevant to both HE and schools in Albania:

• Barolli, E. & Sevrani, K., 2009. Reflections on e-Learning Readiness in Albanian Education. Contemporary Economics, 9(1), pp.5-18. Available at: http://contemporary-economics.eu/pl/przegladaj-artykuly/rocznik/2009/wydanie/1. (http://www.mendeley.com/c/4290499472/g/1075391/barolli-2009-reflections-on-e-learning-readiness-in-albanian-education/)

Interestingly it refers to a paper

• Borotis, S. & Poulymenakou, A. (2004). E-Learning Readiness Components: Key Issues to Consider Before Adopting e-Learning Interventions. In J. Nall & R. Robson (Eds.), Proceedings of World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare, and Higher Education 2004 (pp. 1622-1629). Chesapeake, VA: AACE.

by VISCED expert Spiros Borotis, now at Lambrakis Foundation.

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