Category: <span>News & Events</span>

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 1^st day of the workshop in Tirana – Youth perspectives on remembrance

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.

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The Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education Project “University to Society Innomediaries in Albania: Co-Production of knowledge and research that matters” / U-SIA kicked off on 23rd – 24th February 2021. In the plenary session, speakers highlighted the relevance of the university to society cooperation for the development of Albania and the European integration process.

 

Prof. Assoc. Dr. Xhindi, USIA Project Manager, on behalf of the Mediterranean University of Albania (MUA) and the project team, welcomed the participants and emphasized the importance of the project USIA for MUA and encouraged the partners for sustainable cooperation and successful implementation of the project.

Prof. Dr. Ardian Civici, Rector of MUA, underlined the importance of University-Business Cooperation to provide an array of benefits for higher education institutions (HEIs), students, business and society alike.

Mr. Nikolin Jaka, President of the Chambre of Commerce and Industry in Tirana, echoed the same message on the need for more cooperation between university and business, considering the high potential and relevance of research for the overall development of Albanian society and economy and the European integration process.

Mrs. Mirela Muça, Head of the National Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation (AKKSHI/NASRI), presented the funding opportunities for research to business links from public agencies, highlighting also the changes in the policy framework enabling such cooperation.

Dr. Blerjana Bino, Co-Founder of the Centre Science and Innovation for Development (SCiDEV) confirmed that the entire USIA consortium is strongly committed to enhancing an enabling higher education environment that supports university to society collaborations in order to co-produce knowledge and research with impact that is not only academically insightful but also applicable to the development of Albania and responding to our contextual challenges including COVID19 pandemic, digital transformation, and others.

USIA Project is launched based on a gap analysis conducted previously. What emerges is that universities in Albania are in perpetual transformation trying to re-envision their position in society. The European Commission Report for Albania and other independent reports point out that Albania’s capacity for research, development, and innovation remains low.

The recent legal and policy framework on the HE sector in Albania encourages a Triple Helix Model. This is a welcoming measure. However, achieving effective and productive university-business collaboration remains challenging due to limited availability of research funds & infrastructure; lack of incentives to engage in business cooperation; general distrust in the quality of research; limited capacity to absorb and introduce innovations, and other reasons.

Traditionally universities exist as institutions for the creation and dispersion of knowledge, but in our current world, universities must engage with their own socio-economic context. Triple helix offers a model for creating innovation as an output of institutionalized and structured interactions between university, government, and industry.

Building upon this, the project introduces in Albania a Quadruple Helix Model. In addition to the university, business, and government, this model includes civil society, media, and grassroots organizations to co-create knowledge, research, and innovation output.

Thus, this project proposes a model of co-creation of knowledge for finding solutions to current and future challenges in Albania. research uptake by policy and the business sector remains a challenge and we aim to address that.

As various European Commission documents highlight: “Quadruple Helix Model is the next challenge, where government, industry, academia and civil participants work together to co-create the future and drive structural changes far beyond the scope of what anyone organization or person could do alone”.

The final results of USIA shall be:

• A strong network of universities, research centers, civil society organizations, businesses, and public policy institutions established to work on the foster effective and sustainable university to social collaboration in Albania
• Knowledge transfer and innovation brokerage units established in partner universities in Albania with the support of EU partners
• Foster also regional cooperation and exchange of experience between EU and non-EU countries.

The Kickoff meeting was organized online on Zoom Platform by (Mediterranean Center  – Mediterranean University of Albania (MUA) as a project leader with the participation of all project partners. During the two-day online event, consortium members had the opportunity to discuss and agree on relevant topics for the implementation of the project.

Full video of the plenary session.

Full Agenda.

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CALL FOR APLICATION

Youth involvement in a constructive dialogue: Communist Past in Contemporary Western Balkan (YOU-WB)

A project funded by Europe for Citizens Program

 Deadline: 28 February 2021

The Centre for Comparative and International Studies (CCIS), is implementing a project financed by Europe for Citizens Program – “Youth involvement in a constructive dialogue: Communist Past in Contemporary Western Balkan (YOU-WB)”

The project is implemented in partnership with Mediterranean Center; SCiDEV; Patrimoine sans Frontières: PERIPLI and CCM, targeting youth in 4 programs’ eligible countries Albania, France, Italy, North Macedonia.

The project aims to Foster national and transnational youth activist’s dialogue about the reflection of past communist regimes in contemporary Western Balkan (WB) and EU.

In this regard CCIS and project partners will organize the following activities:

Workshop 1. Rules, norms, rights, practices and customs during the communist regime: youth reflection.

Workshop 2. The effect of rapid social changes during post-communist transition and people’s  perceptions in Macedonia and Albania.

Workshop3. Political Culture in Italy from 1989 and on

Workshop 4. National Identities and Collective Memory in an Enlarged Europe

Tirana Conference: Post-Communism and Democracy in WB

Interested young people in Albania should fill in this application form in English and submit it till Feb 28, 2021.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1e8UHtzB8FQawvhcoY1c2gGoByRhCLt7lh2ysXV2Hif0/edit?usp=sharing

Only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Effective communication is a vital tool for any business owner. Your success at getting your point across can be the difference between sealing a deal and missing out on a potential opportunity.

You should be able to clearly explain company policies to customers and clients and answer their questions about your products or services. It is crucial to communicate effectively in negotiations to ensure you achieve your goals.

Communication is also important within the business. Effective communication can help to foster a good working relationship between you and your staff, which can in turn improve morale and efficiency.

Mrs. Blerjana Bino, our mentor is explaining to the women the key aspects of both verbal and non-verbal communication, how to listen to and understand others, and how to make the best possible first impression on the people you encounter in and around your business.

The evolving ICT landscape is offering women entrepreneurs new opportunities to strengthen their businesses and become more effective. Studies show that there are different tools such as mobile applications, online platforms and networks, online radio and podcasts, blogs, digital marketing, e -commerce and others that are helping women entrepreneurs to reach out to customers and build their businesses in ways they could not do before. Effective use of ICTs is now helping to overcome several challenges that women entrepreneurs in developed and developing countries face alike. However, the data of this project shows that in the region of Elbasan there is a clear evidence of a “gender digital divide” wherein women entrepreneurs – due to lack of literacy, skills, access, resources and other factors – are excluded from the opportunities and benefits offered by ICTs or benefit far less than men. This confirms the results of other studies as well in this regard.

The Elbasan region is very affected by the problems related to youth migration and informal employment in agriculture, the lack of professional training to increase productivity and the lack of safety and health conditions in the workplace. The economic crisis in neighboring countries (especially in Greece) during 2010-2011 has increased the number of migrants returning to Elbasan, who are added to the large group of the unemployed category. In terms of women’s unemployment, the opportunity to find a job and the period when women lose their jobs while waiting for job opportunities is relatively longer than that of men. There is also a disproportionate distribution of women employed in the public and private sectors. The number of women engaged in small businesses still remains very small compared to men, despite the fact that in the Elbasan region unemployment is higher among women than among men. According to the National Business Centre (NBC), the Elbasan branch lists 8,350 businesses, of which only 41 are run or co-run by women. 11.7% of businesses are run by women. These data relate only to businesses registered with the NBC, as there are small businesses which are registered in the relevant local government units or not registered at all. However, the trend is clear. This shows that the business sector is dominated by men.

Our mentor Flutura Xhabija