CCIS working with women in STEM
STEM are usually considered as male-dominated fields. Happy to see initiatives that promote #WomeninSTEM.
CCIS part of Citizen engagement days (AJCM festival) in June!
CCIS – FACM member as Tirana Pole of FACM, had the pleasure to participate in the Festival of Young Mediterranean citizens takin place in Marseille.
Http://ajcmed.org/fr
On the program: online lectures and workshops, international debates about youth engagement in policy and decision making in Mediterranean: issues related to environment, tourism, gender equality and youth mobility.
#youthccis
#AJCM
Second workshop YOU-WB in Skopje -Youth involvement in a constructive dialogue
Center for Change Management within the project “Youth involvement in a constructive dialogue: Communist past in contemporary Western Balkan” / YOU-WB (YOU-WB) – supported by the European Union in the framework of Europe for Citizens progamme (February 2021 – July 2022), organized the second 3-day workshop (18-20 June) in Skopje.
The theme of the second workshop was “The effect of rapid social changes during the post-communist transition and people’s perceptions in Macedonia”. This was a mixed event that consisted of online presentations and discussions through the ZOOM platform and a visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art in Skopje.
About 40 young people attended the two days workshop and together with the panelists, discussed topics related to the period of communism and the transition of the Balkan countries, but with an emphasis on the case of North Macedonia.
On the first day (18.06.2021)- Professor Maleski and Professor Frchkoski had their presentations on the topics: Independence Through Peaceful Self-determination (The case of Macedonia) and Policy of identities and liberal democracy in transitional countries in the region, about the current situation of North Macedonia in terms of the democratic process, the definition of identities today, etc.
The second day(19.06.2021) was attended by 7 panelists Ass. Prof. Dr. Natalija Shikova was speaking about building multicultural society: developing and sustaining dialogue among the communities, Prof. Dr. Jeton Sasivari focused on the constitutional aspects of Transition in North Macedonia: governance of political parties vs. Governance for Citizens, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Marina Andeva had an interesting presentation about the Minorities’ rights: individual or collective protection, Prof. Dr. Mirjana Maleska took everybody back in the time of the revolutions from 1989, the history and the legacy. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aleksandra Petrusevska Ristovska had an interesting topic- “Spaces of oblivion”, she is an artist and shared with the participants her photos of old buildings in Skopje and what’s her point of view, how she sees things through her camera. Vladimir Janchevski, the researcher had a presentation of “provocative Images, Again(St): Contemporary Art interventions in Public Space” .Mr. Agron Biba an actor and director, was talking about the Youth Perspectives, through true stories examples from the past and talked about the importance of communism and explained why it is important on a personal level as well.
Day 3 (20.06.2021)- Vladimir Janchevski, together with young students visited the Museum of Contemporary Art in Skopje and talked about its importance and history.
Communism, although long gone, is still part of many countries around the world. It left a great impact on many people, many thinkers, economists, philosophers, opinion makers, and even on sports and popular culture.
The project duration is 18 months and is targeting especially youth from Albania, North Macedonia, France, and Italy, as well as academics, politicians, civil society, decision-makers, researchers in remembering the past in order to secure and fight for a better future for all. The main goal of the project is to foster national and transnational youth activists’ dialogue about the reflection of past communist regimes in contemporary WB and EU countries.
“Youth involvement in a constructive dialogue: Communist Past in Contemporary Western Balkans” / YOU-WB project is funded by the European Union in the framework of Europe for Citizens, European Remembrance strand and led by Center for Comparative and International Studies in partnership with Mediterranean Center; SCiDEV; Patrimoine sans Frontières: PERIPLI and CCM
Erasmus Office in Tirana conducted the first monitoring visit of the U-SIA project
On June 18 took place the first monitoring visit of the U-SIA project “University to Society Innomediaries in Albania: Co-Production of research and research that matters”.
📍In this online visit, through the TEAMS platform, participated and presented the USIA Albanian partners and representatives of the national Erasmus+ office.
During this meeting were presented the objectives, purpose of the project, activities, challenges and many other important factors during the implementation of the project.
#CBHE #Usia #project #erasmus #ErasmusPlus #university #cbheproject #europe #EU #EMJM
CCIS team presented the Quality Assurance plan for the project.
YOU-WB Second Workshop in Skopje – Youth perspectives on remembrance
Center for Change Management (CCM) is organizing the second workshop in Skopje in the framework of Europe for Citizen Project “Youth involvement in a constructive dialogue: Communist Past in Contemporary Western Balkan” (YOU-WB).
In a blended format from 18-20 June 2021, this workshop will bring together academics, researchers, experts, civil society activists, and young people to discuss the involvement of youth in a constructive dialogue regarding the past focusing on peace, transition, and self-determination in the case of North Macedonia.
In addition to the two days of the workshop, presentation by speakers, and participation of young people, the third day includes visiting the Museum of Contemporary Art-Skopje – Its History and its Future.
“Youth involvement in a constructive dialogue: Communist Past in Contemporary Western Balkans” (YOU-WB) project is supported by European Union in the framework of Europe for Citizens, European Remembrance strand and led by Center for Comparative and International Studies. SCiDEV is a project partner and is in charge of communication and visibility of the project and engagement of stakeholders.
3rd Day of Tirana workshop on youth involvement in a constructive dialogue on communism in Albania: Field tour in Tirana
Center for Comparative and International Studies, in cooperation with Center Science and Innovation for Development and Mesdheu Center, successfully organized the third day of the first workshop in Tirana in the framework of Europe for Citizen Project “Youth involvement in a constructive dialogue: Communist Past in Contemporary Western Balkan” (YOU-WB).
The third day on 11th April 2021 was organized in the form of field visit in Tirana identifying architectural, urban and social-economic development of the capital city from communism to current situation. Youth accompanied by Dr. Erida Curraj and Dr. Blerjana Bino, visited also the House of Leaves, the Museum of Secret Surveillance during communism in Albania. The House of Leaves tries to narrate to young people and to foreigners, one of the darkest periods of the country’s history. Located in the center of Tirana, in front of Orthodox Church: “The Resurrection of Christ” and near the National Bank, the building that temporarily housed Gestapo during the occupation of Albania in WWII was the Central Directorate of the Secret Service from 1944 to 1991. Young people learnt about various aspects of the communist regime while visiting the House of Leaves, but particularly on surveillance of citizens and foreigners, propaganda and special political courts.
On the overall, young people expressed their satisfaction with the workshop, the expertise of speakers, the topics discussed, the opportunity for networking and exchange of ideas and for getting to know Tirana from a different perspective.
2nd Day of the Tirana workshop on youth involvement in a constructive dialogue: Political Culture
Center for Comparative and International Studies, in cooperation with Center Science and Innovation for Development and Mesdheu Center, with the support from partner’s organization Center for Change Management- North Macedonia; PERIPLI- Italy; PSF- France,
successfully organized the second day of the first workshop in Tirana in the framework of Europe for Citizen Project “Youth involvement in a constructive dialogue: Communist Past in Contemporary Western Balkan” (YOU-WB).
The workshop, organized online on 10th April 2021, brought together academics, researchers, experts, civil society activists, and young people to discuss youth involvement in a constructive dialogue regarding the communist past focusing on the case of Albania. Thirty persons from Albania, Italy, France, and North Macedonia participated on the second day.
The first speaker of the workshop was Altin Gjeta, who holds a Master of Arts in International Relations and Politics from University of Westminster, London. He works as a researcher at Albanian Centre for Good Governance, visiting lecture at University of Durres and he is a regular contributor with columns to different media platforms. In his note he argued that the failure of Albania to deal with its past has perverted the establishment of a shared memory and understating of its communist regime massive human rights abuses. Altin concluded that these assemblages of failures, denials of communist’s regime abuses, the emergence of a crisis of representation and disillusionments towards democracy risk tearing apart the very social fabric of the society – and lastly hampering further Albania’s transition toward a functioning democracy.
Dr. Erida Curraj, holds a Doctorate Degree in Industrial Design, a Joint PhD Programme between Ferrara and Polis University. She teaches a master course in Industrial Product Development at the Department of Art Design at Polis University, and Design course at Polytechnic University of Tirana and is an expert of SCiDEV. She presented findings of her PhD project regarding industrial design in the communist regime. She presented part of her database of furniture design from 1945 to 1990 and D-I-Y furniture designs after the first decade of post-communism. She concluded that generally, in Albania is still a misunderstanding of the value of industrial heritage, the lack of community conscience and political responsiveness.
Prof. Asoc. Ilir Kalemaj, Ph.D, Vice Rector and Chair of Department of Social Sciences University of New York Tirana, main argument in his note was that Albania has a weak political culture that is chiefly legacy of its recent communist past. Albania’s communism that lasted for more than five decades was of a pure totalitarian type, making it an exception even among its peers in former Eastern Europe. This combined with weak democratization standards and feeble institutions in the pre-communist era, were one of the main impediments of establishing strong rule of law that is a pre-condition for fast democratic consolidation in the aftermath of the communist era. Therefore, Albania is still suffering from a protracted transition, with little headway toward strengthening its institutions and building a vibrant deliberative democracy.
Dr. Dorina Gjipali, Lecturer at Luarasi University and expert at CCIS, focused on the constitutional development in Albania during and post communism. Socialism opposed strongly the principle of separation of powers, considering it a fabrication of reality and supporting the full power of the Assemblies as direct representatives of the sovereignty of the people. These theoretical positions and the support of the principle of unity of power were materialized in the Soviet constitutions and later in other socialist countries including Albania. She concluded that today, while in Albania the separation of powers is weakened and seriously threaten from a super powerful executive, ensuring and protecting the constitutional democracy, and the social contract it reflects, requires an active citizenship.
Lutjona Lula, expert of SCiDEV with a Joint Master of Arts (M.A.) focused in South East European Studies from University of Belgrade and Karl-Franzens University of Graz, discussed transitional justice in the case of Albania. Lack of databases and common understanding of the number of victims weakens the victim-centered processes of transitional justice, by making it difficult to promote internal reconciliation of the society. Transitional Justice tools that have a perpetrators-centered approach such as lustration have not been successful amidst some initiated attempts. The country has not gone through a complete transitional justice process. The topic of compensations has been the most publicly discussed, and often used for short-term political powers. While compensations are currently being implemented accordingly, internal reconciliation of the Albanian society must take place as soon as possible in order to avoid further delays and restore justice and trust in Albanian democracy.
Rei Shehu, student at the Mediterranean University of Albania also shared his thoughts regarding youth perspective on the communist part and current collective memory in Albania. The session was then followed with Q&A and with a youth perspective session whereby young participants shared their views on how to deal with the past.
Full video
First Workshop in Tirana 9 April 2021- Plenary Session for YOU-WB project
Center for Comparative and International Studies, in cooperation with SCiDEV and Mesdheu Center, successfully organized the plenary session of the first workshop in Tirana in the framework of Europe for Citizen Project “Youth involvement in a constructive dialogue: Communist Past in Contemporary Western Balkan” (YOU-WB). 
The plenary session, organized online on 9th April 2021, brought together academics, researchers, experts, civil society activists, and young people to discuss youth’s involvement in a constructive dialogue regarding the communist past focusing on the case of Albania. Fifty persons from Albania, Italy, France, and North Macedonia participated on the first day. The keynote speakers were: Prof. Dr. Adrian Civici, Rector of the Mediterranean University of Tirana, and Prof. Assoc. Dr. Enriketa Pandelejmoni (Papa).
Prof. Civici focused on the Albanian economy crisis in the years 1980-1990 and its impact on the end of the socialist system. He emphasized that it is crucial to deal with the past to make the future’s right actions. In the last decade of the ’80s-’90s, the Albanian economy showed signs of a total crisis. Consumer goods began to be massively lacking, switching to the food coupons system for the population, exports decreased, while demand for basic imports was constantly increasing, foreign exchange reserves were declining, and, in its entirety, domestic production, especially agri-food, was declining at an alarming rate. The country fell into a deep economic and financial crisis, and the system of the centralized economy no longer had any means or opportunity to stop it. In a broad sense, despite several attempts to modify economic policy and allow some elements of the “capitalist economy,” this was a crisis of the socialist system itself and, consequently, could not be resolved without changing it.
Prof. Pandelejmoni (Papa) tackled communist legacy and memory-making in Albania. She noted that 30 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the history of communism still presents itself as one of the most polarizing and controversial themes in Eastern Europe’sEurope’s culture of memory, including Albania. In Albania, the research on communism and its memory are beginning, although 30 years have been passed since communism. The studies on communism and memory of communism are limited reduced in some newspaper articles and most publications of former political prisoners’ memories. Communist crimes are not profoundly studied. The only serious study on violence and terror in Albania to be mentioned is the publication of the volumes of encyclopedia of Institute for the Study of Communist Crimes and Consequences of Communism. Today as witnesses to the tragic event of communism are passing away, politicians, historians, and representatives of associations and NGOs are struggling for the reconstruction of social memory. In the framework of the EU path that post-communist Albania has to follow, it is expected that Albania should apply the European transnational perspective on the politics of communist memory.
Also, Prof. Assoc. Dr. Nevila Xhindi, CCIS Senior Advisor, illustrated the case by providing participants with photos and links from crucial sites in Albania such as museums, archives, etc. She noted that student movements, hunger strikes, protests, and the overthrow of Enver Hoxha monument and his dragging to the student city were the first acts, and unfortunately, the only ones of Albania’s decommunization. The longer the presence of communist persons, beliefs, actions, and mindsets in our country, the longer the transition continues. After three decades, we are not simply facing the inability to punish this period. Today, we are witnessing the tendency to return the old communist signs, symbols, graphics, and ideology. For the final decommunization to take place, justice must be done. Only then can we hope for visible improvements, a functioning democracy, and a smooth end to our transition.
Participants were very active with questions for both Prof. Civici and Prof. Pandelejmoni (Papa). Some of the issues discussed during the first day were: the relation between the Communist Party of Albania and the Italian Communist Party, the impact of communist legacy in the EU integration process, the impact on the economy and first years of transitions, women and communist past and youth role, history school curricula and public narratives about the past, communism and transitional justice.
Full video of the 1st day of the workshop in Tirana – Youth perspectives on remembrance
CCIS designing and leading the Quality Assurance Plan for USIA Erasmus+ project
CCIS participated in The second Steering Committee meeting of the USIA project, hosted online on Zoom Platform by Mediterranean Center- Mediterranean University of Albania (MUA) as project leader and with the participation of 11 other SC members from project partners.
Following the agenda Dr. Dorina Gjipali Project manager at CCIS- a partner organization at USIA project and leader of WP7- Quality plan, presented Quality Assurance Plan (QAP) drafted in very close and productive cooperation with ACEEU colleagues and the support of the leading institution Mediterranean University of Albania. The Quality Assurance Plan (QAP, Plan) forms a single point of reference in relation to the USI-A Project’s quality assurance priorities, standards, indicators, procedures and roles. It has been developed as a core element of the WP 7 (Quality Assurance Plan-QAP) of the Project in compliance with the Project description and all applicable rules and guidelines.
Mrs. Gjipali started her presentation by thanking everyone for being part of the discussion and approval of Quality Assurance Plan and especially Mr. Nikolai Shmeleand Ms. Adissa Ejubovic from ACEEU for their significant contribution to QAP. She expressed her appreciation for all the recommendations received while drafting this project document.
The aim of the Plan is to define the quality control and quality assurance activities that will be carried out throughout the project in order to ensure smooth implementation, continuous monitoring and high-quality level of the project activities and outcomes.
The QAP will facilitate healthy and efficient collaboration among the project partners and ensure delivery of high-quality results and outcomes. It will also help partners to assess and manage project risks, identify and rectify shortcomings, and allow for speedy improvements.
QAP will be amended by agreements and also reviewed by the end of the year
By end of the presentation session, QAP was approved from Project Steering Committee.
A day to discuss quality of the USIA-project
CCIS is one of the key partners of the Erasmus + USIA project. USIA project aims the highest level of quality at every stage of the project evaluation and monitoring processes and CCIS and ACEEU are leading WP7- quality assurance. Today colleagues from CCIS, ACCEU and Mesdheu Center organized a joint technical meeting discussing the milestones for the quality assurance plan to be designed for the project. All partners will establish internal quality control mechanisms and their representatives will always check the output of his/her project team. The members of the Quality Assurance Control will be key responsible persons in charge of quality on behalf of the partner institutions.
Coming soon….The Quality Assurance Plan for USIA project!
