Throughout the month of June, the Agricultural University of Tirana organized a series of intensive workshops, held almost daily, as part of the quality assurance process for the implementation of the new study programs. These activities were conducted within the framework of the UBT–BOKU 2030 academic offer reform, in preparation for the upcoming academic year.
The workshops were organized by the Vice Rector for Teaching, Prof. Dr. Ilir Kapaj, the Directorate of Internal Evaluation and Quality Assurance (DIEQA) at the Agricultural University of Tirana (AUT), and the study program coordinators. During this process, a total of 30 workshops were conducted, covering all the new study programs that AUT will offer starting from the 2026–2027 academic year and beyond. The review included 12 first-cycle Bachelor's programs, 16 second-cycle Master of Science programs, one Executive Master's program, and one integrated second-cycle program in Veterinary Medicine, representing the university's entire academic portfolio.
This process represents one of the most significant milestones in the transformation of AUT's academic portfolio, which has been comprehensively redesigned in collaboration with and under the academic supervision of BOKU University (the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna). Through this strategic partnership, the university has aligned its study programs with the highest European standards, creating a modern academic portfolio focused on quality, internationalization, and the evolving demands of the labor market.
The workshops brought together deans, heads of departments, study program coordinators, and all academic staff involved in teaching. During the working sessions, participants engaged in detailed discussions on the curricula, course modules, module content, intended learning outcomes, assessment methods, teaching methodologies, and their alignment with the latest academic, scientific, and professional developments.
A central component of the process was the presentation of each course module by the faculty member responsible for its delivery. Each lecturer outlined the module's content, objectives, the competencies and skills it is designed to develop in students, the teaching methodology, and the assessment methods. They also presented their academic, research, and professional experience, demonstrating the qualifications and expertise that make them well suited to deliver the respective module.
The workshops were closely monitored and evaluated throughout their implementation by the Vice Rector for Teaching at the Agricultural University of Tirana, Prof. Dr. Ilir Kapaj. He provided valuable guidance, recommendations, and academic expertise aimed at enhancing the content and structure of the course modules, as well as the overall organization of the study programs, ensuring their alignment with contemporary standards in higher education.
The discussions also focused on the innovative elements to be integrated into the study programs, including research-based teaching, collaboration with industry, the use of real-world case studies, an international perspective, digital teaching tools, and project-based learning. In parallel, participants reviewed the specific requirements of each module, including laboratory facilities, equipment, academic literature, teaching assistants, guest lecturers, and field-based practical activities, with the aim of ensuring a high-quality, practice-oriented learning experience.
An important component of the workshops was the review of the teaching plans for each course module, the intended learning outcomes, and the teaching methodologies. This ensured that every module is aligned with the competencies required for the professions of the future and with the new educational philosophy underpinning AUT's study programs.
The program review process was characterized by open and professional discussions among academic staff, study program coordinators, and representatives of the Rectorate. Each proposal was carefully examined with the aim of enhancing the quality of teaching and aligning the study programs with European higher education standards. Through this broad institutional commitment and its close collaboration with BOKU University, the Agricultural University of Tirana continues to modernize its academic portfolio, offering students contemporary study programs that are internationally comparable and oriented toward scientific research, innovation, and sustainable development.
