Since the new law on the Higher Education was adopted, new opportunities have opened up.  Within this framework, the following achievements have been realised:

• Restructuring of the system of studies in public higher education institutions in three cycles and lifelong learning.
• Curriculum reform in first cycle study programmes: 70% of the content has been aligned by now in related programmes in higher education institutions across the country
•  Establishment of an internal quality assessment system in public higher education institutions and accreditation of some full-time study programmes in public and private higher education institutions.
• Near completion of the National Framework of Qualifications in higher education.
• Implementation of the ‘European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System’ (ECTS) and the Diploma Supplement.
• Easing of procedures for the recognition of diplomas obtained abroad.
• Review of workload for academic staff of higher education institutions.
• Increased mobility of students and staff within and outside the country

It is recognised that different universities need to have different missions. Regional universities in
particular do not play a strong role in local development. Higher education is increasingly being
oriented toward training with more specialisations. During these years study programmes have been
divided into specialisations to respond to labour market demand.

One of the scecifics of Albanian Research systems is that teaching (in universities) and research (in research institutes) have been separate from each other. The system of scientific research is currently being reformed. The research institutes of the Academyof Sciences and those dependent to line ministries have been attached to universities.

A Research Strategy Group has been established to develop priorities (e.g. Albanian studies, agriculture and food, natural resources etc.). Academic research will be funded on a project basis in the areas of priority, as a result of competition.

In addition, there will be incentives as well as simplification of contract approval procedures for regional universities to develop stronger links with their local communities, offering consultancy, applied research and other services.

In order to achieve all the above stated goals  also the financing  should be improved, universities will sell services, including research studies for the benefit of third parties or in-service teacher training. Second, student fees, which currently cover about 22% of the full cost, will gradually increase (25-30%).

The documents are available on: www.wbc-inco.net/object/document/14060.html