During the 19th joint BOKU–AUT mission, the delegation from Vienna visited the Agricultural University of Tirana to address important topics related to improving administrative processes, teaching, the promotion of UBT’s mobility program, and other key aspects of the ongoing reform.
The work of the first day opened with welcoming remarks from the Rector of the Agricultural University of Tirana, Prof. Dr. Fatbardh Sallaku. “These will be three intensive days, but I know that a great deal of work has already been done, and I would like to express my sincere thanks to the study groups, the commission members, the deans and vice-deans,” said Rector Sallaku.
Prof. Dr. Hubert Hasenauer, coordinator of the BOKU mission, stated in his welcoming remarks that the idea of this workshop is to work on the details and implementation of the teaching programs, and secondly to carefully address aspects of university administration. “Administration should not administer itself; it should support the key processes of the university, such as research and teaching,” Hasenauer noted, among other remarks.
The Study Curriculum Commission, led by Prof. Dr. Ardian Maçi, emphasized that an important part of the academic reform within the framework of the AUT–BOKU 2030 initiative has already achieved concrete results, with the review and development of several new study programs at the Bachelor’s and Master’s levels now completed. According to the commission, these finalized programs have been designed in line with European academic standards and the model of BOKU University Vienna.
Prof. Dr. Xhelil Koleci and Petra Winter, as leaders of the VetMed Working Group, presented the progress achieved since the last BOKU mission, including the preparation of documentation for the new curriculum and its harmonization with EAEVE standards and the EU “Day One” competencies. Particular attention was also given to the modernization of infrastructure, including the establishment of a Skills Laboratory, as well as the next steps for the full implementation of the new program and the preparation of projects and applications for European funding.
The Vice-Rector for Teaching at AUT, Prof. Dr. Ilir Kapaj, presented a summary of the revised Bachelor’s and Master’s programs, as part of the academic reform currently being implemented at the university with the assistance of experts from BOKU University.
In this session, the management structure for the implementation of study programs at the Agricultural University of Tirana was discussed. The institutional organizational chart was presented, outlining clear coordination between the Rectorate and the Vice-Rector for Teaching, the faculties through the vice-deans for teaching, as well as the relevant directorates for quality assurance, student services, and statistics. The aim is to ensure a structured process for the development, monitoring, and continuous improvement of study programs, in line with the AUT–BOKU 2030 strategy.
In parallel, a dedicated session on the reform of the Veterinary Medicine program was held. Led by Prof. Dr. Xhelil Koleci and Petra Winter from BOKU, the session focused on the development of the new VetMed program at the Agricultural University of Tirana, with the participation of the working group for this program and other experts involved in the process.
The first day of the mission concluded successfully, marking an important step forward in advancing the academic reform and paving the way for two more intensive days of discussions and joint work between the teams of the Agricultural University of Tirana and the BOKU experts.
