2026

Calls for scientific research projects open

 The National Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation has opened 3 new calls for 2026 for: Scientific research and development projects; Technology and innovation projects; Scientific research infrastructure projects; giving the opportunity to all universities, scientific research units and scientific researchers to set milestones for future projects in their programs. The Ministry of Education has set a budget of 7 million euros as support for scientific research and innovation

Financial support with minimum salary for 444 excellent students and priority programs

 The Ministry of Education and the National Agency for Financing Higher Education will support 444 excellent students and priority programs in the academic year 2025–2026, exempting them from study fees and with a minimum salary of 50 thousand lek per month. Of these, 166 are excellent students and 278 follow priority programs, reflecting a clear orientation towards key areas for the country's economic and technological development

Buletini shkurt 2026

2025

Presentation of the new “Policy Document in higher education 2030” 

On February 2025 the “Policy Document in higher Education 2030” was presented for the first time/ This document constitutes an important recent policy document in the area of higher education drafted by Ministry of Education in cooperation with national and international experts. 

The document key pillars relate to the review of the legal framework in the area of higher education aiming to reflect new challenges and to open new opportunities for higher education institutions. At the same time, it aims to offer more autonomy for higher education institutions so that they can increase ownership in decision making relating the opening of new study programmes. 

Another key element of the reform is the profiling of higher education institutes in order to assist students to be more prepared in the facing of the challenges of the labor market. The process of accreditation will be approximated even more with the standards of EU member states in this regard while Albania is preparing to request full membership in ENQA.The document focuses also on internationalization of universities by means of opening new campuses and increasing cooperation with the best European Universities. 

The second key pillar focuses on funding of higher education and scientific research. The new scheme that is proposed in regard to funding relates to funding support based on performance for higher education institutions. 

This document reflects every aspect included in the quality standards at the European level, which are in line with the internal legal framework. At the same time, this document paves the way for the review of this framework for full compliance with ESGs, a process that is already ongoing and in our focus. This is taking into account that ESGs themselves are in the process of change at the EU level.

Dokumenti-i-Politikave-te-Arsimit-te-Larte-18022025.pdf

The National Strategy for Scientific Research, Technology and Innovation 2030 has been approved

Policy Goal 1 Creating an efficient and sustainable system for supporting scientific research, integrated at an international level, across the spectrum of natural sciences, engineering and technology, medical, agricultural, social and humanities.

Specific objectives:  

• 1.1: Completing and implementing the legal and regulatory framework to guarantee quality, ethics and effectiveness in the development and application of research in accordance with priority areas. Specific objective 
• 1.2: Developing human capacities and supporting infrastructure for scientific research (academic infrastructure) to increase performance in national and international programs. Specific objective 
• 1.3: Improving the collection, processing, interpretation and publication of statistical and other indicators of research, technology development and innovation.

Policy Goal 2: Creating an environment that facilitates and encourages mechanisms for interaction and technology transfer for cooperation between the research community, economy, innovation and public institutions This policy goal is intended to be achieved during the implementation period of the strategy and will build capacities for the generation and transfer of technologies through the achievement of specific objectives, which are:

• Specific Objective 1: Increasing cooperation between higher education institutions, central and local government institutions, the business sector and civil society through the expansion of research and development of joint projects (Quadruple Helix Model).
• Specific Objective 2: Improving mechanisms and increasing support for international technology transfer (TNT).
• Specific Objective 3: Increasing the role of science and innovation in technological development.
• Specific Objective 4: Strengthening and increasing the capacities of technology transfer centers to advance knowledge in a given field or to further develop technology.

Policy Goal 3 Policy Goal 3: Promote a culture of science and innovation in education, to ensure a didactic approach with an emphasis on research practices and projects This policy goal is intended to be achieved over the duration of the strategy and will increase the available information, regarding institutions, financial support or even opportunities offered by donor funding/co-financing, both for experts in the field and for young people in pre-university education or even those in higher education. Currently, it can be said that in the higher education sector, the information and transparency provided to key actors in higher education has increased significantly, but in pre-university education there is evidence that young people do not have sufficient and often necessary information, regarding innovation and participation in various projects. There are some efforts to create networks of women and girls in STEM, such as the one funded by the US Embassy through small grants. The network consists mainly of lecturers from faculties offering study programs in IT and engineering, and they work mainly with high school girls to increase girls' interest in mathematics, physics, chemistry, etc. The promotion will be achieved through the successful achievement of the following objectives:

• Specific objective 1: Reforming the science curriculum in pre-university education by including STEM in education.
• Specific objective 2: Raising awareness at all levels of pre-university education, to strengthen the role of young people in research and innovation.
• Specific objective 3: Developing digital competence.

Ministria e Arsimit

2024

Internationalization

In the direction of internationalization of higher education, work has continued on opening branches of prestigious foreign higher education institutions. In this context, the branch of the College of Europe in Tirana has been opened (an agreement that aims to foster cooperation for the development of the higher education sector, expertise in the field of European studies and the provision of a unique academic offer for students and professionals), of the National University of Distance Education (UNED) (an agreement that was ratified by Law No. 86/2024 “On the ratification of the agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the National University of Distance Education (UNED) for the opening of the National University of Distance Education, campus in Gjirokastër) and aims to develop the higher education sector and expertise in studies in various fields, through distance and online methodology in the Republic of Albania and the Western Balkans region, expanding the Spanish educational offer in Albania and the Western Balkans region, supporting the integration of services provided by UNED and guaranteeing academic and administrative support for registered students as well as cultivating an adequate environment for intellectual exchange, academic research, international and multicultural understanding and coordination, in accordance with the extraordinary academic tradition of UNED). Also in terms of internationalization, the Memorandum for the modernization of the Agricultural University of Tirana with the standards of the BOKU University of Vienna has been signed, a historic moment in the transformation and internationalization of Albanian universities. Through this memorandum, the ambitious UBT2030 project is being implemented, which will result in the transformation of the Agricultural University of Tirana, according to the European model of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences BOKU of Vienna by standardizing the curriculum, improving scientific research, establishing joint programs, to conclude with the opening of joint programs for which double diplomas will be issued with the BOKU University of Vienna.

Decision on priority areas applied

The government approves a decision on national priority programmes at higher education level. Such decision includes the list of priority programmes as well as the financial support offered to students in relation to such areas.