The Minister of Education and Sports, Ogerta Manastirliu, inspected one of the most important investments in the field of higher education, the construction project of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, in cooperation with the Polytechnic University of Tirana (UPT).
This project, implemented within the framework of the Pact for the University and aiming to provide modern and suitable spaces for approximately 3700 students, foresees the construction of a buildings complex, and the academic staff and students of UPT have been engaged for the implementation of this project. It is expected to be completed in 2026.
The Minister of Education and Sports, Ogerta Manastirliu, who has been closely following the progress of the implementation of this major project, emphasized the its importance as a step towards raising the standards of higher education in Albania and providing better opportunities for students. She pointed out that this public investment not only improves the educational infrastructure but also paves the way for increased capacity and cooperation at the international level.
“The Faculties of Architecture and Construction, by 2026, will have their new home, the Corps of Universities of Civil Engineering and Architecture, within European parameters, another jewel that is added to the investment belt in higher education, where we are moving at a fast pace. For 2024 only, the budget dedicated to higher education infrastructure is 1.5 billion ALL. This budget aims to optimize educational standards for higher education,” said Manastirliu.
The new building will serve as a new home for students, equipped with the necessary facilities such as lecture halls, laboratories, libraries, and recreational spaces, all designed to support the academic process in the field of civil engineering and architecture.
The Minister also said that, in addition to investments in higher education, cooperation between universities and local governments is a priority, paving the way for the realization of joint projects aimed at benefiting communities throughout the country. This new step will allow municipalities and local authorities to benefit from the academic and scientific expertise offered by universities in a wide range of projects, from infrastructure investments to human resource capacity building and specialized training.
“The aim is to enable both the local government and the municipalities to benefit from cooperation with universities. In addition to central institutions, local institutions will also have the opportunity to obtain the necessary expertise from our universities to carry out projects from various investments. We are keen to expand this partnership with the university by creating opportunities for the university to expand into other previously unexplored areas, which will increase investments for human resources, but also the interest of young scientific researchers and students, so that our universities are as close as possible to the European dimension that we want,” said the Minister.
In addition, the Minister focused on the importance of continuing and deepening relations with prestigious European universities, encouraging the development of joint programs that will bring higher standards and increase the interest of young people to study in Albania. This, according to Manastirliu, is expected to provide new support to Albanian universities, bringing them closer to the European dimension they are striving for and increasing investments in both infrastructure and human resources to meet the challenges of today and the future in an increasingly globalized world.