Planning Policy

Instruction 29 of 2018 defines the activity and workload of academic staff in Higher Education Institutions.
This instruction qualifies the activities carried out by academic staff as follows:
- teaching (lectures, seminars, etc.)
- scientific or artistic research
- institutional contribution (program development, publications, etc.)
- professional contribution (expertise, dissemination of scientific knowledge, etc.)
The heads of the main units plan the number of full-time and part-time academic staff depending on the number of registered students and the activity that the higher education institution has. Conditions of service of the academic personnel employed full time is defined by the basic unit of the higher education institution based on the needs of the last and approved by the Rector. In non-public higher education institutions criteria, rules and procedure for employment are defined in the statute of the institutions. Personnel employed full time in a type of institution cannot be employed at the same time on another higher education institution inside the country of abroad. He or she can be engaged as part time staff only in another higher education institution by approval of their superior. It can be engaged in projects, consultancy and other types or research and services within the higher education institution, and this is not considered as double employment within the institutions.

Udhezim-I-MInistrise-se-Arsimit-Sportit-dhe-Rinise-Nr.-36-date-23.11.2018.pdf

Entry to the profession

Law No. 80/2015 ‘On Higher Education and Scientific Research in Higher Education Institutions in the Republic of Albania’, defines the categories of academic staff: a) professors; b) lecturers; c) assistant- lecturers. The first category includes members of academic staff, heads of courses or modules and leaders of scientific research related activities conducted by the institutions. Members of this category hold the title Professor or Associated Professor. This category is usually employed by undefined contract. Lecturers include members of academic staff that conduct teaching activities, scientific research activities. This category includes members of the personnel with the scientific grade of Doctor and with at least three years of experience in teaching before or after the achievement of the title. The members of these categories are employed usually by means of undefined type contract. Assistant lecturers include those members of academic personnel that conduct teaching and research activities and that have achieved at least the Master degree. Assistant lecturers are employed by means of contracts with limited duration. Academic personnel engaged in teaching must have at least one degree higher qualification in comparison with the degree of teaching. Reports between the three categories are defined by the higher education institutions. Teaching activities duration are defined by the institutions in compliance with legislation. 

Professional status

The criteria for hiring full-time academic staff are determined by the basic unit, based on the needs of the latter, and approved by the rector. In non-public institutions, the criteria, rules and
procedures for hiring academic staff are determined in the statute of the institution.

Academic staff holding the title of “Professor” shall serve in office until the age of 68. Based on the needs of the higher education institution and with its consent, they may serve in office even after the aforementioned age, through contracts with a duration of up to one year, renewable, according to the provisions of the statute of the higher education institution.
Academic staff holding the title of “Associate Professor” shall serve in office until the age of 65. Based on the needs of the higher education institution and with its consent, they may serve in office even after the aforementioned age, through contracts with a duration of up to one year, renewable, according to the provisions of the statute of the higher education institution.
Academic staff of the “Professor” category may be temporarily detached from the higher education institution, for a maximum period of five years, to engage in important state and political tasks. For the period of separation, he/she may be replaced by academic staff employed under a fixed-term contract. After the end of the assignment, at his/her request, the member of the academic staff returns to his/her previous place of work or to an equivalent position.
Academic staff do not represent a civil service commitment. Each higher education institution details the legal aspects and defines in detail the commitments of academic staff in its Statute

Salaries

In public Higher Education Institutions, decision no. 243 of 2023 regarding the salaries of full-time academic staff is respected. This decision has determined the minimum and maximum limits in function of the category and title (Doctor of Sciences, Professor, etc.) as well as in function of the position that the academic staff holds (rector, head of department, etc.). For part-time non-academic staff, the salary is calculated in function of the annual workload and is approved by decision of the Senate and the Board of Administration, structures established in accordance with the Law on Higher Education. The Board of Administration also approves, upon the proposal of the Senate, the structure of engagement of full-time and part-time academic staff at the beginning of the academic year.
In non-public higher education institutions, salaries are determined by the Boards and the Rector, in accordance with the respective legislation and the Labor Code.

Vendim i KM Nr. 243 datë 20.04.2023.pdf

Working time and holidays

In function of the workload of academic staff and academic support as well as in function of the infrastructure in higher education institutions, both public and non-public, commitments are determined. All approved official holidays are respected. The commitment of academic staff and academic support is from Monday to Friday, respecting the working hours specified in the Labor Code and the Statutes of these institutions.

Promotions, advancement

Career advancement for academic staff in higher education institutions is usually based on the categories mentioned above. Each higher education institution provides separately the further details on managing bodies’ selection, dismissal, responsibility and other service conditions in its statutes and regulations. Based on the same law the academic personnel is employed by means of defined time contracts or undefined contracts. Employment of academic staff in higher education institutions is done based on dispositions of institutions statutes and legal framework en force. 

The academic personnel conducts teaching, research services for the support of the of the higher education institutions and services for student advising.

Retirement and pensions

Retirement age for Professor and Associated Professors is  68 years old for the first category and 65 for the second. They can serve also after retirement age if they wish to do so by means of one year duration contracts for one year after retirement age only.

Law no. 80_2015.pdf