“Currently in Albania, one in five young people is neither in employment, education nor training,” Gonxhja said.

Under the EU4Youth project, eight initiatives implemented by civil society organisations across several municipalities are establishing local partnership networks coordinated by employment offices.

These networks aim to identify 1,500 young people and prepare 800 of them for the next step towards employment, education or vocational training.

EU4Youth is funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP Albania and UNICEF Albania in cooperation with the National Agency for Employment and Skills and the National Youth Agency.

Gonxhja described the initiative as an important step not only in addressing labour market challenges, but also in creating new opportunities for young people in Albania.

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Speaking at the presentation of a report by the Accreditation Board for Higher Education Institutions on Monday – an event that saw the participation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, members of the Accreditation Board, and rectors of public and private universities – Education Minister highlighted a 40% increase in higher education funding and a fivefold rise in research funds aimed at improving quality and industry connections.

Manastirliu underlined the crucial role of the accreditation process in raising the quality of higher education institutions and ensuring that study programs are directly connected to the demands of the labor market.

Education Minister also discussed the transition towards “University 4.0,” focusing on digital campuses, innovation, and lifelong learning to meet the demands of the modern economy.

She added that the transformation of Albanian universities towards this model is underway, supported by the new higher education law and the establishment of key institutions such as the Accreditation Board, which plays a vital role in maintaining standards.

The Accreditation Board’s report outlined key developments and challenges in Albania’s higher education system, including student numbers, curriculum quality, academic staff qualifications, research, and market relevance.

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