TAM Report / Albania - international students

GENERAL INFORMATION

TAM title: Transforming Albanian higher education institutions into a destination for international students

Type of Event: Seminar

Modality: Presential

Location: University of Tirana

Country: Albania

Dates: 5 – 6 November 2024

Participants: The TAM gathered 40 participants, including rectors, vice-rectors, deans, and International Relations Officers from Albanian universities, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, the EU Delegation, and members of HERE Albania.

THEMES COVERED

• Governance structures for internationalisation
• Internationalisation of education, research, and valorisation
• Institutional priorities and goal setting for the next five years
• Challenges in creating an attractive environment for international students and staff
• The role of national branding (“Study in Albania”)
• English-medium instruction and language support
• Best practices from Maastricht University on building an international academic profile
• Professionalisation of support services and intercultural competence
• Research visibility, international co-publications, and doctoral mobility
• Networking with European and global university alliances

KEY OUTCOMES

During the workshop, participants:

• Identified key improvement areas for institutional internationalisation strategies
• Reflected on their current status and future goals in education, research, and valorisation
• Highlighted the need for a national “Study in Albania” campaign supported by regulatory updates
• Recognised the importance of enhancing English-medium instruction and student support services
• Emphasised improving researcher visibility, joint publications, and doctoral mobility

OVERVIEW

The TAM aimed to support Albanian HEIs in strengthening their internationalisation strategies. The programme combined a keynote lecture, interactive breakout sessions, and structured group work. The expert shared Maastricht University’s experience as the most international university in the Netherlands, illustrating best practices in education, research, and valorisation that could be adapted to the Albanian context.

Participants discussed their current internationalisation efforts, identified gaps and priorities within their own institutions, and reflected on the systemic changes needed at both national and institutional levels. The format encouraged open dialogue, comparison of university practices, and the development of shared priorities for improving international attractiveness. The TAM laid foundational building blocks for a future national strategy on internationalisation and generated momentum for stronger coordination among Albanian universities.

ENHANCING IMPACT: PROPOSED NEXT STEPS

National level:

• Develop a national internationalisation strategy with measurable objectives and a clear accountability structure.
• Launch a coordinated “Study in Albania” branding and promotion campaign.
• Introduce regulatory adaptations to support EMI, mobility, and institutional partnerships.

Institutional level:

• Critically assess and strengthen governance structures for internationalisation, including dedicated taskforces and regular monitoring.
• Increase the offer of English-medium courses and encourage Albanian students to partially study in English with language support.
• Improve website communication for international students, including clear information and contact points.
• Enhance the visibility of researchers, support co-publications, and explore doctoral mobility opportunities.
• Engage in European and global networks to build partnerships and stimulate mobility and research collaboration.

RESOURCES AND BACKGROUND MATERIAL

• OECD. (2019). Benchmarking Higher Education System Performance. Higher Education. Paris: OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/be5514d7-en
• Rumbley, L. E., Hoekstra-Selten, J. & Marinoni, G. (2025). Internationalization in Europe in 2024: Data-Driven Insights from the Frontlines. In L. E. Rumbley, J. Hoekstra-Selten & G. Marinoni (Eds.), European Higher Education Area 2030: Bridging Realities for Tomorrow’s Higher Education (pp. 83–100). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-75140-0_6