Transformation of Education and Empowerment of the Future in Albania
The Agricultural University of Tirana (AUT) is the leading university of life sciences in Albania and an important research and educational center in the field of agriculture, including livestock, forestry, the environment, natural resources, food, and rural development. Historically, through scientific research, academic education, and its mission, AUT has played an important role in the development of the agricultural sector and its subsectors.
In the last 30 years, the agricultural sector in Albania has undergone a radical transformation, from a planned and centralized economy to a free market system. The agricultural sector accounts for 21% of Albania's GDP, while for Austria it is only 3.5%. AUT, as the leading scientific university of Life Sciences in Albania, has and will continue to play an increasingly important role in this transformation. This process will be even more significant, considering that Albania is expected to become a member of the European Union in the very near future.
For AUT, although this transformation process is a challenge, it is also an excellent opportunity to strengthen its role as a leading academic institution in the field of Life Sciences. This requires an analysis and alignment of the university's key processes (such as research, academic offerings, etc.), so that AUT is prepared to achieve its goals as an academic leader in the agricultural sector within Albania and beyond.
Today, AUT faces (i) an increasing demand for knowledge and skills in the Life Sciences to cope with this transformation process and (ii) a decrease in the number of students. Additionally, the globalization of higher education has made it increasingly important to attract outstanding students and ensure a faculty with international expertise, which is also crucial for the development of the Life Sciences sector in Albania.
To meet these challenges, AUT has initiated a comprehensive reform project for the complete transformation of its academic and scientific offerings and the transfer of knowledge through the implementation of the "AUT-BOKU 2030" Strategy, based on the model of BOKU (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria), which has agreed to provide support to UBT for the period 2024-2028.
By choosing to study at AUT, you will have the opportunity to explore nature and build a secure future for yourself. Through the twinning with BOKU, within a timeframe of 3-4 years, AUT will transform into:
