1st Conference: “Meet Albanian Talents - Meet AlbTalents”

Vlora on March 28-29, 2014

“Talent is the passion to achieve the dream, which makes a person happy and progress more present...so let's run without falling and walk without stopping with our heads held high and our minds on top.”

“Whoever finds, whoever does, whoever arrives”. Inspired by this slogan, the Center for the Study of European Policies for Regional and Local Development in cooperation with Ismail Qemali University of Vlora, with the Vlora Regional Development Agency, Albanian Guide as well as local and central authorities in the Vlora Region as well as other actors held on March 28-29 in the city of Vlora, the 1st Conference: “Meet Albanian Talents - Meet AlbTalents”.

This first Conference of its kind is part of our project with the same name: “Meet Albanian Talents - Meet AlbTalents”.

Brain Drain, a phenomenon from which Albania, as a country in transition with a weak economy and high unemployment, could not escape without being affected, in our view, is an urgent topic that should increasingly take up ground in our public and institutional discussions and debates, understood as the loss by our country of a part of its highly qualified human capital as well as the country's lack of ability to stimulate brain circulation, that is, the circulation of brains from and to Albania, with extraordinary benefits for the country, by examining the means that would allow the transition from one phase to another. It is precisely with such a mission that this conference, based on the foundation of previous efforts of our country, institutions and society, initiated this re-discussion and its re-introduction to the forefront of our concerns, by bringing together the various actors who share the same interest in this topic. The fact that Albania, according to the latest study conducted by the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). results, among the most affected countries in Europe in terms of the phenomenon of "brain drain" with 26.7%, reinforces the urgency of this discussion.

The objective of this conference, unlike previous initiatives, was to enable a direct dialogue between: students, researchers, academics, artists or freelance professionals and local and central government institutions, executive and legislative, to discuss the possibilities of legal changes or administrative practices in order to fulfill the dream of those who want to return but for objective reasons cannot do so, the dream of those who want to help from where they live, the city, the region or the country of origin.

Participating in the discussion panels for two days in a row were important actors from the academic and scientific world, currently abroad, such as Prof. Laura Mersini Hounghton, Dr. Detina Zalli or even newly returned to Albania such as Prof.As. Mirela Bogdani, Dr. Sokol Bana, dr Elvis Mocka, Dr Ermal Xhelilaj. Academics who have previously had such experiences Prof. Albert Qarri, Prof Kosta Barjaba, Prof. Shezai Rrokaj, Prof.As Mira Shehu, professionals from the world of entrepreneurship or media in emigration such as Vjollca Staro, Eva Habili (journalist, Germany), Gerta Malaj (IBM, USA), emigrants who have already made their choice: returning to their homeland, such as Vangjel Maskaj (Albania Guide), (EU), Idlir Sinani, Eduart Kola, Desdemona Stefa, presenting to us the advantages, disadvantages and difficulties they have encountered in this undertaking of theirs. The panelists were also successful people with a completely Albanian education who have made successful careers in international structures such as Prof. as. Valbona Karacia, representatives of the business community such as Florencia Nani or Besnik Pepi, representatives of homologous associations such as the A@san Network Blerina Babaliu or young professionals, representatives of regional institutions such as Ines Stasa or Mariana Cani. An important role was played by the discussion and presentation of experiences by the expert and researcher of emigration residing in Switzerland, Mr. Luan Bytyqi, the Head of the Reintegration Office at the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Kosovo, Ms. Violeta Berisha, the Director of Human Resources at this ministry, Ms. Vjollca Bruqi, Ms. Bygit Bude, German experts on reintegration issues, etc. Also present were students of Albanian and foreign universities of the second or third levels, students on the verge of choosing their studies, etc. An important contribution to the progress of this discussion was given with their papers by Prof. Zamira Cavo, Dr. Përparim Kabo, Ms. Edlira Cepani, Sindi Halili and dozens of others through their comments or letters. The discussions in these panels, directly or even via video messages, were conceived as a continuation of the discussion, started online from 02.12.2013. This online discussion involved 110 academics, freelancers, researchers and students from an almost global geography. They gave their opinions valuable and very rational about the topic under discussion, offering their vision for enhancing lobbying around this problem. To these we must also add pupils, students and entrepreneurs or newly returned professionals, interviewed by our staff in the cities of Vlora and Tirana. Their panel discussions, video messages, interviews or results from online interviews will be gradually revealed to you, the readers of the site, day by day.

By appreciating the contribution of qualified professionals in the consolidation of democracy and the construction of a modern society, this conference shed light on several aspects of their reintegration in Albania. firstly by the people with whom we shared this idea and then by the expanding network through online communication. Our network is expanding. In a few months, hundreds of collaborators have joined it and it is naturally evolving towards a social group, which consists in transforming proposals and ideas into concrete actions every day and more. At the center, the different skills in this process are present and were clearly reflected in this conference.

The conference, beyond proposing an in-depth analysis of the causes of the brain drain phenomenon and the lack of brain circulation, examines the instruments that can favor the transition from the first phenomenon to the second. The conference individualized cases of Albanian excellence and offered concrete proposals to begin to provide a solution to this perennial problem, which has significant consequences on the current and prospective development of our country.

So what is our challenge for the future?

The challenge that we must face is twofold: on the one hand, the worrying increase in human capital with high qualifications, which emerges from our country, that is, outside the country's system, to other countries. Here, high scientific qualities or people with high skills in technology play a major role, whose departure has harmful consequences for the competitiveness of our country. On the other hand, the depletion of the country's capacities to attract highly qualified capital from abroad, including those of Albanian origin. Therefore, the loss of Albanian talents, combined with the inability to absorb foreign brains, severely penalizes our country in the context of a globalized world where competition is increasingly based on Knowledge and Innovation.

Therefore, a common challenge for the Albanian state and society remains the return of professionals to the country as well as their effective reintegration into the social, economic and political environment. This implies the process of adaptation in the country of origin in order for the knowledge and experience accumulated abroad to serve not only individual progress but also the progress of our country and society. In this way, we will improve the understanding of the phenomenon and describe the activities and actions that need to be taken to support the implementation of new regional and national policies that support, on the one hand, the return of young people to our country and, on the other hand, discourage its abandonment through a process of innovation and development of the territory, which can make our best young people protagonists.

The policies undertaken to date by Albanian governments, including those of Albanian businesses, to absorb these capacities are inadequate. Efforts to promote this process have had a low profile and have been poorly coordinated.

In the current conditions, an energetic political intervention is necessary to manage these flows as well as a multidisciplinary approach to the phenomenon. Undertaking such steps on a large scale and in a well-coordinated manner, using the experiences of advanced countries remains a permanent objective for us. This is what we aimed for during this first conference. But while a high profile representation from the academic world was achieved, other actors left much to be desired. We aim to achieve this involvement in the process from other levels: the legislative and executive, including the world of entrepreneurship. We will not stop insisting until those who need to listen and take the right steps do so. We aim to engage in a high profile intervention and we will achieve it with persistence, with work, with argument, with conviction. To this end, what was planned to be the last panel of this conference will be achieved through the development of a joint workshop in Tirana, with high representatives of the legislative and executive, thus concluding the first phase of this project. At its conclusion, we will also submit the recommendations arising from this conference, which were presented by the working groups on the second day of the conference. These recommendations have been reworked into a single document by the center's staff.

In this way, we aim, together with you, to encourage the initiation of concrete and effective steps in this area. Our discussion continues in time, going beyond the walls of the conference, because it is a concrete discussion, which concerns and involves us all.

In conclusion, to change course and to sow the seeds of a systemic change from brain drain to brain circulation, the will and investment of institutions, civil society and economic operators are necessary. We will offer our proposals for this change of course. We, all together, will provide proof that everything is feasible because at the base there is a sense of necessity, motivation and will to contribute passionately to the administration of a positive change. This conference is only the first necessary step towards a cultural change for which we have a lot to do.

Let's contaminate the roles and share the responsibilities together.

Thank you!

Luiza Hoxhaj

Executive Director