The international CASEE 2026 conference continued its proceedings at the Agricultural University of Tirana, where the second day was dedicated to presenting the results, reforms, and strategic vision of the UBT2030 project, one of the most significant higher education transformation processes in Albania.
The sessions brought together professors, researchers, and experts from European universities and institutions, who discussed the modernization of study programs, scientific research, internationalization, and alignment with European Union standards.
At the opening of the first session, Prof. Dr. Hubert Hasenauer from BOKU University presented the vision, mission, and core competencies of the UBT2030 project, emphasizing the importance of creating a modern university model based on competencies, innovation, and scientific research.
The Rector of UBT, Prof. Dr. Fatbardh Sallaku, presented the background and expectations of the UBT2030 reform, highlighting that its main objectives include academic modernization, excellence in scientific research, internationalization, knowledge and innovation transfer, as well as strengthening AUT’s regional role. During his presentation of the UBT-BOKU reform philosophy, he emphasized that the university’s transformation is not simply a structural or academic change, but a new development model. According to this philosophy, the reform aims to create a university where students believe in the real value of their degree, academic staff feel appreciated for their contribution, and institutional partners and society view the university as a driving force for future development and innovation.
Prof. Dr. Erinda Lika spoke about the importance of scientific research for high-quality higher education, placing special emphasis on the reform of doctoral studies and the new PhD model at AUT.
Prof. Adrian Maçi presented the university’s new Bachelor and Master study programs, while Prof. Johann Sölkner and Prof. Spase Shumka presented UBT’s mobility and research cooperation program.
Prof. Petra Winter, President of EAEVE (European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education), spoke about the reform of veterinary education at the Agricultural University of Tirana and the importance of European accreditation for Albania. She emphasized that aligning the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine with EAEVE standards represents an important step toward ensuring quality in veterinary education.
The conference continued with two parallel scientific sessions, where researchers from Albania and various European countries presented papers in the fields of life sciences, agriculture, food safety, environment, rural development, innovation, and European policies.
Prof. Aida Bani presented nature-based solutions for reducing nickel transfer to agricultural crops, while Prof. Elvin Toromani addressed land restoration in the Drin River Basin through “Nature-Based Solutions.” From the University of Milan, Prof. Giulio Senes spoke about the role of landscape architecture in life sciences universities, while other researchers presented topics related to precision agriculture, food safety, climate change, water quality, and digital technologies in the agri-food sector.
The second day of the conference concluded with the scientific poster session, where participants from various universities and institutions presented their studies and research in fields related to agriculture, environment, food safety, rural development, and innovation.
