TIRANA, September 8 – Albanian and Bulgarian universities will expand their cooperation by developing joint training programmes for undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as joint research projects. It was said at a meeting of the Minister of Education and Science, Galin Tzokov, with rectors of the five largest state universities in Albania in Sofia on Friday that a bilateral meeting between rectors of universities from both countries is being planned to this end, reported BTA.
Tzokov pledged to facilitate such a meeting between the rectors to discuss opportunities for deeper cooperation. In his words, Albanian students have so far participated together with Bulgarian students in Erasmus exchanges, but in the next programming period there is a possibility to expand this partnership. Another instrument is the Horizon Europe programme, in which scientists from both countries can participate, Tzokov explained.
“For us Bulgaria is a friendly country”, said the Chairman of the Conference of Rectors in Albania Prof. Artan Hoxha, who is also Rector of the University of Tirana. He stressed that the two countries have many things in common and Albania is keen to become a member of the European Union, which Bulgaria joined in 2007.
Tzokov raised the issue of studying Bulgarian in Albanian universities. At the moment Bulgarian is taught only at the University of Tirana, and if there is a desire to introduce such a specialty in other universities in the country, the Ministry of Education and Science can assist by providing lecturers. /argumentum.al
