site.btaBulgarian, Albanian Universities to Develop Joint Training Programmes for Students

Bulgarian and Albanian universities will expand their cooperation by developing joint training programmes for undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as joint research projects. A bilateral meeting between rectors of universities from both countries is being planned to this end, it emerged at a meeting of the Minister of Education and Science, Galin Tzokov, with rectors of the five largest state universities in Albania: the University of Tirana, the Polytechnic University of Tirana, the Aleksander Xhuvani Elbasan University, the Fan Noli University of Korce and the Aleksander Moisiu University of Durres, the Ministry of Education and Science said on Friday).

Tzokov pledged to facilitate such a meeting between the rectors to discuss opportunities for deeper cooperation. In his words, Albanian students have so far participated together with Bulgarian students in Erasmus exchanges, but in the next programming period there is a possibility to expand this partnership. Another instrument is the Horizon Europe programme, in which scientists from both countries can participate, Tzokov explained.

"For us Bulgaria is a friendly country", said the Chairman of the Conference of Rectors in Albania Prof. Artan Hoxha, who is also Rector of the University of Tirana. He stressed that the two countries have many things in common and Albania is keen to become a member of the European Union, which Bulgaria joined in 2007.

Aleksander Xhuvani Elbasan University Rector, Prof Skender Topi pointed out that a large part of the academic staff of the university consists of Bulgarian graduates. University of Korce Rector Dhimitri Bello is also an alumnus of Neofit Rilski Southwestern University. He pointed out as a problem the lack of remote learning in higher education in Albania, for the introduction of which the country could use the Bulgarian experience.

Tzokov raised with the rectors the issue of studying Bulgarian in Albanian universities. At the moment Bulgarian is taught only at the University of Tirana, and if there is a desire to introduce such a specialty in other universities in the country, the Ministry of Education and Science can assist by providing lecturers.

The Rector of the Polytechnic University of Tirana, prof. Andrea Maliqari, Dean of the Faculty of Professional Studies at the University of Durres Prof. Osman Metalla, and the Bulgarian Ambassador to Bulgaria, Ivaylo Kirov also took part in the meeting.