A delegation from the Agricultural University of Tirana, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, composed of the Dean’s Office and department heads, conducted an official visit to the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU University) in Vienna, from 15–17 June 2026.
This visit was carried out within the framework of ongoing efforts to internationalize academic activities and strengthen the faculty’s research capacities, aiming to expand strategic partnerships with renowned European higher education and research institutions.
During the visit, the UBT delegation held a series of meetings with professors and researchers from BOKU, organized according to relevant fields of expertise. The meetings included discussions in the areas of Agronomy, Environment and Natural Resources, Horticulture, Plant Protection, Animal Sciences, as well as Aquaculture and Fisheries.
"In each meeting, current research priorities, the challenges faced by the respective sectors at national and international level, as well as concrete opportunities for future collaboration were discussed. The discussions focused in particular on:"
- the development of joint research projects;
- applications to European funding programmes, including Horizon Europe and Erasmus+
- the exchange of academic staff and students;
- the organization of joint scientific activities.
- the transfer of knowledge and innovation to the agri-food and rural sectors.
Particular attention was given to identifying areas of mutual interest where the expertise of both institutions can be combined to address current challenges related to sustainable agriculture, natural resource management, climate change, food security, and rural development.
The visit also served as an important platform for exchanging experiences on the organization of teaching, the modernization of curricula, and the integration of scientific research into the teaching process. The UBT delegation had the opportunity to gain first-hand insight into BOKU’s best practices and success models in applied research and collaboration with industry and the community.
At the end of the visit, both parties expressed their readiness to intensify institutional cooperation and to translate the ideas discussed into concrete initiatives and projects. This visit is considered an important step toward strengthening the partnership between UBT and BOKU University, creating new opportunities for the academic, scientific, and professional development of academic staff.
