The lab accelerates practical skill development and scientific research.

Attending the event, there were Rector of the University of Tirana, prof. dr. Artan Hoxha, Dean of the Faculty of Foreign Languages, prof. dr. Esmeralda Kromidha, project members, professors in the field of translation and linguistics as well as students.

On his part, Rector Hoxha emphasized the significance of investments in infrastructure and modern technology, as well as the role of the Faculty of Foreign Languages ​​as a key institution in academic training, scientific research, and the development of professional translation in the country. He appreciated the contribution of the Faculty of Foreign Languages ​​in the preparation of new generations of specialists.

The National Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation has funded the project.

The laboratory is conceived as a contemporary space for teaching, scientific research and professional practice, supporting technical, editorial and audiovisual translation, interpretation, as well as the development of language technologies.

At the same time, this laboratory will assist various institutions in the country with translation services, expertise and professional support as a service to third parties.

The laboratory has advanced technological equipment, professional software, electronic databases and modern individual and group work spaces.

The laboratory also contributes to the linguistic treatment of data and the creation of parallel corpora in Albanian and foreign languages, supporting scientific research and the development of language technologies.

This investment further strengthens the role of the Faculty of Foreign Languages ​​as a reference center in the field of translation and language technologies, making our students more competitive in the national and international job market. /k.s/r.e/a.f/p.s./

Minister of Education Evis Kushi visited the Faculty of Foreign Languages today, where she emphasized that, “These laboratories will not only be available to lecturers for scientific and academic research work, but also to the students”.

“The Ministry of Education set a budget dedicated to internationalization. Internationalization is now our basic policy in higher education, encouraging and supporting universities for cooperation with prestigious universities. The cooperation can be rendered into double, joint study programs, but also teacher exchanges, student exchanges, scientific research programs and in general in all aspects of academic life, university life”, said Kushi.

Kushi explained that, “Last year, we set a new budget of 400 million lekë for Albanian universities. One voice was to support the design and implementation of programs, the curricula or the exchange of university teachers. And the second voice was about the infrastructure because many joint programs with European universities need new laboratories, infrastructure, and equipment, to enable them, to properly implement these programs”.

Minister Kushi said that, “I’m glad that the University of Tirana responded immediately to our call to benefit from this budget and today I look forward to visiting these facilities that I’m proud of. The inclusion of student councils or student clubs in these projects is truly to be congratulated”.

Kushi reiterated again the invitation for the students to prepare with research projects because very soon the National Agency of Scientific Research and Innovation will open the call for research and development projects, but also infrastructure projects./k.s/p.s./

FEL (Foundation for Endangered Languages) based in London and the Center for Studies and Publications for Arbëreshi people are organizing the international conference “Endangered Languages ​​and Diaspora”, where great attention is paid to the state of the Arbëreshi language and studies on it as endangered Diaspora language.

This is the first time that a conference of such international proportions is organized, with the participation of 54 researchers from the most renowned universities and research centers in the world, who for four days in a row, respectively from 16-19 December 2021, in the premises of the university building “Liria”, are presenting the results of their research work in relation to languages ​​that are in danger of extinction today.

Furthermore, the director of the Foundation for Endangered Languages ​​(FEL), prof. Nicholas Ostler took a panoramic look at the annual activity of FEL and focused on the significance of the special theme of the 25th edition, where Arbërishi language is a unique case of six centuries of survival as a language and as a culture, a thesis which he extended during the second session with his topic on the steps for preserving this language.

Also present at the conference were representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Tirana, as well as representatives of various institutions in the country, who welcomed the proceedings of this conference. On behalf of FM Olta Xhaçka, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Megi Fino, delivered a greeting message.

She emphasized the great role that the Arbëreshi had in the Albanian National Renaissance, but also in the intensification of relations between Italy and Albania./p.s./