The decision is approved/ Manastirliu: The well-known University of Spain UNED in Gjirokastër opens this year

2024-05-02 10:20:00, Aktualitet CNA

The decision is approved/ Manastirliu: The well-known University of Spain UNED

Minister of Education and Sports, Ogerta Manastirliu

An important development for the higher education sector in Albania, which brings new opportunities for students, is the approval of the project agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the National University of Distance Education, Spain (UNED), which aims to open university campus in the city of Gjirokastra.

"UNED is one of the universities in the world with distance and mixed study modalities. The state university of Spain will bring a series of study programs in the three study cycles but also lifelong professional training courses. There are more than 30 bachelor's study programs, more than 80 master's programs and 20 doctoral programs that this University offers in all countries of the world. The opening of this University in Gjirokastër opens another perspective of development for higher education in Albania and especially in Gjirokastër, where study programs will be connected with cultural heritage, with tourism and all aspects of economic development," said the Minister of Education. and Sport, Ogerta Manastirliu after the government meeting where this important decision was made for higher education in Albania.

Starting from the 2024-2025 academic year, UNED will offer study programs in Albania in different cycles and modalities, according to the academic needs of the country. The Gjirokastra campus will follow the same standards as other UNED campuses, with internal regulations governing the opening, organization, language of study, duration of programs and their closure. This agreement ensures the automatic recognition of scientific degrees and diplomas of UNED in Albania.

"It is a new academic offer that we are convinced will find support from Albanian students as well as those from the region. This university will come with all standards and accreditation, which will be done by Spain. We will be able to have diplomas, degrees and titles recognized automatically according to this agreement, so facilities are created for Albanian students and those of the region, and we also have a new academic offer in Albania," said Manastirliu.

The academic year 2024-2025 brings more academic offers to Albania, marking an important step forward in the internationalization of higher education, increasing competition, and opening the way for new collaborations to improve the quality of education.

After the opening of the College of Europe in Tirana and the agreement with Austria on the reformation of the Agricultural University of Kamza, the way is also opened for the new campus in Gjirokastër, in the city included in the UNESCO world heritage list.

UNED, the second largest university in Europe by number of enrolled students, has over 150,000 students. Since 1997, he has collaborated with UNESCO to promote distance education. This university has campuses in 60 Spanish cities and 20 other cities globally, including Berlin, Bern, Brussels, Buenos Aires, Caracas, Lima, London, Mexico City, Paris and Sao Paulo./ CNA