Friday, October 10, 2014
Monday, August 4, 2014
Monday, June 30, 2014
Positive atmosphere - Atmosfere pozitive
Dhënia e statusit të vendit kandidat të
BE-së për Shqipërinë, ka nisur të japë efektet e saj. Ka një ndjenjë të
ndryshme në terren. Ka shumë shenja rreth rritjes së pritshme. Shpejtimi i
ritmeve te zhvillimit. energji dhe optimizëm. Kjo është një atmosferë
pozitive. Nëse ne do te dimë ta menaxhojme kete atmosfere, të gjithë së
bashku: institucione publike dhe private, qytetare, OJQ-të, ne së shpejti
do të shohim rezultatet, edhe për këtë shkak.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Monday, May 5, 2014
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
Friday, April 25, 2014
Need more confidence or is there a lack of interest? - Nevojitet më shumë besim apo ka edhe mungesë interesi?
The
granting of EU candidate country status to Albania has begun to have its
effects. There is a different feeling on the ground. There are many signs about
the expected growth. Acceleration of development rates. energy and optimism.
This is a positive atmosphere. If we will know how to manage this atmosphere,
all together: public and private institutions, citizens, NGOs, we will soon see
the results, also for this reason.
Following the show Top Story, on the economy, in
addition to the evaluation of the treatment of an interesting topic and of
direct interest to the public, it seems to talk about the economy and
development.
Appreciating all the effort of the panelists to qualitatively
address this topic
Welcoming the new initiatives and priorities
presented by Minister Ahmetaj, I note that:
A strange ideology of economic revival or the hop
that we must do to accelerate the pace of development is being built. Of
course, this is a normal objective. It is said that this depends mostly on the
fact that how many financial resources will be available to the citizens (which
was also mentioned in the discussions during the show in question) and on the
other fact that these citizens will have enough faith in the future in order to
spend more, accelerating the movement of the engine of the economy: production.
Conservative ideology, I would say, insufficient
to catch up with the ever-increasing competitiveness. Why not consider the
basic reason behind the decrease in purchases (I used the word purchase, not
consumption to be more appropriate): current products and services are of less
and less interest to citizens (buyers). Of course the decline in purchases is
causing so much fear today in Europe and beyond.
I think that giving greater importance to
financial resources to stimulate purchases is only a necessary condition, but
not a sufficient one. In addition, entrepreneurs and senior managers need to be
given cognitive resources to design and implement new products and services.
This role can be performed very well by actors
such as our Center or similar structures, but above all, this process must be
guided by our educational system.