Prime Minister Edi Rama, on a visit to Madrid, Spain, on occasion of Albania’s participation in FITUR 2024, the International Tourism Trade Fair, the first global meeting point of the year for tourism professionals in Madrid, had a business breakfast at the Rector’s office of the National University of Distance Education, UNED, the biggest public university in Spain, to discuss ongoing efforts on the university campus in the southern Albanian city of Gjirokastra that will join the UNED’s European system this year, providing Albanian students with the opportunity to attend UNED degree programs and graduation without having to leave Albania.

The Rector of the National University of Distance Education, Ricardo Mairal, who also represents the University of Madrid, said that the visit will help efforts to further boost educational cooperation and exchanges between the two nations and countries.

“I can really imagine a near future when the two countries will share knowledge, expertise, scientific research, mobility and cultural views. This is why your today’s visit highlights our genuine commitment, our project to build a world, where research takes place without borders, where education can become the universal language that connects us with one another.

As I already noted, Mr. Prime Minister, we are truly honoured to have you here and launch together such a stimulating project, which means a lot for both countries and the University of Madrid in particular that I am honoured to represent today,” the UNED Rector Ricardo Mairal said.

On his part, Prime Minister Rama pointed out the fresh opportunities of mutual cooperation in the future, when the doors of the universities will be open to students from the respective countries.

“This is one of our top priorities, ensuring that our universities emerge from that self-referring domain and sign such agreements to provide our students the opportunity to receive high quality education and attend the best degree programs without having to leave the country.

In the meantime, it is so good to imagine a future when European students attend higher education in Albania thanks to these universities. This is one of the main results we are seeking to deliver on.

Similarly, we have already signed very good accords with several universities. The College of Europe has been opened in Albania, which is also very important. It is indeed the second campus of the College of Europe after the one opened first in Poland. We are looking forward to seeing the new campus opened and I am pretty sure your colleagues will really enjoy visiting Albania,” PM Rama said during the meeting.