Albania and Ørecomm
explore pathways of collaboration

In March 2011, a 6-person delegation from University of Tirana came to visit universities, governmental and non-governmental institutions in the Øresund region. The primary purpose of the visit was to identify the practical elements of a Master’s level program in Social Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) and to discuss the benefits and steps involved in establishing a twinning relationship between the University of Tirana’s Faculty of Social Science Center of Excellence in Social Behavior Change Communication and the University of Roskilde, Malmö University and other networks and institutions in the Øresund region.

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“The University of Tirana, Center of Excellence for SBCC is about to develop a Master’s program in SBCC and hopefully this visit has enabled the participants to better implement the Master’s Program. Also it has been a great opportunity to discuss future collaboration”, says professor Thomas Tufte from Roskilde University.

During the days in Sweden and Denmark a possible action plan for future collaboration was developed. First of all, a delegation from the University of Tirana is going to participate in the Ørecomm festival in September. Secondly, a joint seminar is aimed at being held in Tirana 4-6 November 2011 focusing on media, communication and social entrepreneurship in transitional societies.

“A seminar in Tirana would be a great opportunity for students in Albania to meet students from Denmark and Sweden”, says Marinela Sota, lecturer at Tirana University. Besides that, the aim is also for guest lecturers from Roskilde University and Malmö University to give lectures on the Master’s Program in Tirana. Another possible way to collaborate will be to send thesis students from both RUC and  Malmö to Albania to do research within the field of SBCC.

“We hope these contacts between Albania and Denmark/Sweden can be yet another stepping stone on pathway of strengthening academic collaboration and networking in Europe around communication and social change”, says Tufte.

One of the lecturers from Tirana University describes the visit as the starting signal for future academic collaboration between the three Universities: “My vision is to establish a joint Master’s degree program and to exchange both professors and students and to make joint research”,  says Izela Tahsini from Tirana University.

”This visit was a great opportunity to meet with possible partners”, concludes professor Edmond Dragoti, Head of Social Sciences Department at Tirana University.