The policy debate on higher education in the Western Balkans, and specifically in Albania, has received scarce attention as object of study in the last decades. Nonetheless, the efforts to rebuild the higher education systems after the Communist period are still facing several challenges, especially considering that in a country like Albania the socio-economic environment has been stable only since the years 2000. Through a social science approach, drawing on sociological theories of massification and democratisation of higher education, as well as on different financing theories and models, the present study provides an analysis of past and current policies of higher education in Albania, including ongoing reforms to redesign the sector. Through a specific focus on access and financing of higher education, this work aims at assessing to what extent these policies respond to principles of equity and equality of opportunities. Based on field experience and studies, as well as analysis of primary and secondary sources, the research provides an original insight into the Albanian policy-making process, showing that, despite embracing most of those principles on paper, current and proposed reforms still lack the necessary implementing power, in a competition between global internationalisation forces and internal struggles to overcome the country’s heavy historical legacies. Conclusions are accompanied by policy recommendations, aimed at informing the policy debate and providing suggestions for the implementation of more equitable access and financing models.
Higher education in Albania: access and financing
2014
Abstract
The policy debate on higher education in the Western Balkans, and specifically in Albania, has received scarce attention as object of study in the last decades. Nonetheless, the efforts to rebuild the higher education systems after the Communist period are still facing several challenges, especially considering that in a country like Albania the socio-economic environment has been stable only since the years 2000. Through a social science approach, drawing on sociological theories of massification and democratisation of higher education, as well as on different financing theories and models, the present study provides an analysis of past and current policies of higher education in Albania, including ongoing reforms to redesign the sector. Through a specific focus on access and financing of higher education, this work aims at assessing to what extent these policies respond to principles of equity and equality of opportunities. Based on field experience and studies, as well as analysis of primary and secondary sources, the research provides an original insight into the Albanian policy-making process, showing that, despite embracing most of those principles on paper, current and proposed reforms still lack the necessary implementing power, in a competition between global internationalisation forces and internal struggles to overcome the country’s heavy historical legacies. Conclusions are accompanied by policy recommendations, aimed at informing the policy debate and providing suggestions for the implementation of more equitable access and financing models.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14242/136679
URN:NBN:IT:IMTLUCCA-136679