Roberta Malee, the higher education expert at the World Bank office in Albania, made this statement during the National Conference on Higher Education held today in Tirana, with the participation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.

She congratulated the Ministry of Education and Sports for crafting the 2030 Higher Education Policy Document and appreciated its presentation at the forum held for this purpose, with the participation of key stakeholders in the field.

Malee remarked, “This document will play a key role in making important decisions that will impact various areas, particularly the enhancement of higher education quality.”

She regarded this fact as the “highlight” of higher education in all the countries of the region.

Malee emphasized, “The inclusion of key stakeholders, the focus on internationalization and EU integration, as well as the development of a model for funding higher education, are some of the areas this document addresses. This document and the government’s focus aim at transforming the higher education sector in alignment with ongoing developments, a fact that requires the commitment of all actors and their interaction.”

During her speech, Malee shared some findings from a study conducted by the World Bank in several countries regarding the impact of higher education.

“The World Bank is completing a study on the assessment of higher education in middle and low-income countries. Higher education provides significant benefits to all sectors, and the results show that earnings for those who have completed higher education are three times higher compared to those who have completed secondary education. Additionally, those who finish higher education have better employment opportunities,” said Malee, emphasizing that “reforms must continue and are important to sustain the achievements.”

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