Author: Dallandyshe Xhaferri
33 years ago, Albania held the first democratic pluralist elections, but today a miniature Albania within the university structures is facing the voting process. Albanian universities this year are far from the concept of the election process, where two or more candidates compete with each other for the position of rector, dean, head of department.
According to the data made public on the official websites of the universities, it turns out that in 7 of the 12 public universities of the country, only one candidate for rector has been announced.
The University of Tirana, the Polytechnic University, the Agricultural University, the University of Gjirokastra, the University of Middle Ages, the University of Elbasan have only one candidate for the position of rector, while there is no information about the announcement of the candidacy on the official website of the University of Sports.
Migen Qiraxhiu, a representative of the Citizen Center, tells "Sinjalizo" that the lack of alternative choice has become a major problem when we are dealing with the fact that Albanian universities are ranked low in the world or European quality assessment.
"The same names, the same individuals who seem to have a strong position within the universities. Rectors, deans who start and exchange, rotate among each other," says Qiraxhiu.
Albania is included in the rankings made by Cybermetrics Lab. The Spanish group has been ranking universities worldwide for 20 years, based on the universities' academic and scientific works, their publication and access by students or other stakeholders.
According to the 2023 ranking, the University of Tirana was the best in Albania but ranked 3 in the world, followed by the Agricultural University, which ranked 972.
University of Elbasan, decision on appeal
Albania's universities in the ranking are far behind other universities in the region, such as those of Belgrade, Nis, Pristina, etc. However, the "struggle" to direct them is not lacking.
The official website of the “Aleksandër Xhuvani” University in Elbasan has announced the candidacy for rector of Elvira Fetahu, who currently holds the position of vice-rector. Fetahu is the only candidate for this position after the rejection of the candidacy of Majlinda Perriu (Peza) in the decision of May 26, with the argument that until the 20th of last month, Perriu was exercising the duty of Prefect of the Elbasan District.
Perriu appealed the decision of the Institutional Elections Commission to the Appeals Commission at the University of Elbasan, where, among other things, it is said that on the 24th of last month, the Council of Ministers decided to release the Prefect from his duties.
"From that date, i.e. 24.05.2024, there is no legal obstacle to the approval of my candidacy for the role of Rector in the EU," it is written in the appeal made by Perriu.
However, on June 3, when the Institutional Election Commission had to make a decision on the appeal, the head of the Appeal Commission, Aida Llozana, resigned.
The silent ones, Teachers and students
Keeping the rector's or dean's position for a long period of time by making rounds is viewed with skepticism by researchers of university activities.
"If an individual, rector or dean, has held leadership positions for 20 years, for 10 years, he has almost recruited the majority of the staff, the lecturers, who when the elections come find the opportunity to reward them," says Migen Qirakhiu from Qëndresa Qytetare.
Meanwhile, Redi Muçi, lecturer for 13 years at the Faculty of Geology and Mining at the Polytechnic University of Tirana, tells "Sinjalizo" that lecturers "under the umbrella of academic freedom" commit violations related to the total lack of accountability, including corruption, to which rectors "close their eyes".
"So, the same logic is used in itself, 'I hired you, so you will vote for me, or what I tell you, and on the other hand I will turn a blind eye', for all the shortcomings that teachers may have, whether from their training or from the way they conduct their lessons ," says Muçi.
For the academic year 2023-2024, in public and private institutions of higher education, 915 pedagogues have exercised academic activity with the title "Professor", while 3 of them hold the scientific degree "Doctor", according to the information provided by the Ministry of Education and Sporteve has placed at the disposal of "Sinjalizo" the request for information.
From the information provided by "Aleksandër Xhuvani" University in Elbasan and that of Tirana, it results that the number of staff and lecturers who became part of Erasmus+ exchanges during the pre-election period in these universities was higher than in the first 4 months of the year. past.
During the period January 1, 2023-December 31, 2023, 180 academic personnel of the University of Tirana became part of the "Erasmus+" exchanges, while only in the period January 1, 2024-May 16, 2024, 108 UT personnel were included in these exchanges.
Of these personnel, 92 are lecturers and 16 academic assistant personnel with an administrative character, according to the answer that the University of Tirana has given to "Sinjalizo".
At the "Aleksandër Xhuvani" university, only 1 lecturers were included in the "Erasmus+" exchanges during the period January 2023, 31-December 2023, 44, while during the period January 1, 2024-May 16, 2024 38 lecturers and 15 administrative and academic support staff.
Problems since the…campaign
This year, the problems of the elections have already started in the campaign, the start of which is not clear.
"Just a few days ago, the University of Gjirokastra came out with its candidates, while some universities come out four weeks in advance, for some universities 3 weeks in advance, making it clear what the election campaign period is, how many days the campaign is," says Qiraxhiu, according to whom, despite these uncertainties and the lack of alternatives for the elections, the weight of the student vote determined in the new reform law remains almost negligible, only 10%.
"We think it is too little and should be 20%-30%. In our opinion, it should be higher for two reasons: it increases student engagement within universities and students understand that they have a certain weight in the university", - concludes Qiraxhiu.
Redi Muçi says that the weight of the students' vote is only symbolic, but the student organization still has a long way to go.
" Student organization should be based on the demand for accountability, not only with high fees, but also with the abuses that lecturers commit with class time, with much that has to do with university life ," says Muçi, according to whom the silence of the students resembles that of the entire Albanian society, where people who face difficulties decide to leave the country rather than raise their voices.
"Students are unfortunately massively abandoning university halls and choosing either to leave the country to study, which is logical considering both the fees and the quality in Albania. Or they simply choose to enter university only with the hope of getting a degree, without worrying about their professional training," says Muçi.
The current process of university elections in Albania is far from the democratic and transparent standards that should characterize academic institutions. The lack of real competition, with single candidates in many universities, highlights the structural and cultural problems that prevent the development of a healthy academic environment. Moreover, the low ranking of Albanian universities at the international level reflects the consequences of this situation, showing that the quality of education remains a major problem.
This article was created based on input provided by individuals who have chosen to speak up. Share your story, empower others and be an agent for change. Visit the website: www.acqj.al/sinjalizo-dhe-ti/
