Youth Employment and Innovation at the Heart of the Official CIHEAM visit to Albania

The Secretary General of the CIHEAM, Mr. Teodoro Miano, was welcomed by the Albanian authorities as part of an official visit which took place between  9 to 10  October in Tirana. 

The visit started with working meetings with the Minister of Agriculture Mrs Anila Denaj and the Minister of Education Mrs. Ojerta Manastirliu during which the activities of education, research and cooperation led by the CIHEAM were presented.

Solutions to respond to the most pressing challenges in agriculture and food systems were also discussed in particular regarding the strengthening and efficiency of value chains, women and youth empowerment through entrepreneurship or the attractiveness of professional schools. 

In addition, the SG held a meeting with officials of the University of Agriculture of Tirana to develop a new CIHEAM Master's degree in Albania focusing on "Open Innovation and Youth Entrepreneurship in Mediterranean Agri-food Systems'' involving several national and international private companies.

A NEW MASTERS IN INNOVATION AND YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN ALBANIA FOR 2024-25

The SG of the CIHEAM, accompanied by a delegation composed of Mr. Damiano Petruzzella and Mrs Olimpia Antonelli from the CIHEAM Bari, Professor Mrs Maria De Angelis, Director of the Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, and Professor Mr Alessandro Rubino, vice-rector for international relations at the University of Bari Aldo Moro, was welcomed by Mr. Fatbardh Sallaku, Rector of the University of Agriculture of Tirana, Mrs Erinda Lika, Vice-rector for research and projects and Mrs Romina Koto, Vice-rector for public relations and institutional development.

The main theme of the meeting was the development of a new Master's programme promoted by the CIHEAM Bari in collaboration with the other CIHEAM Institutes, namely those of Chania, Montpellier and Zaragoza. 

Entitled “Open Innovation and Youth Entrepreneurship in Mediterranean Agri-Food Systems”,  this Masters follows the evolution of the CIHEAM Bari Master implemented in collaboration with the University of Bari Aldo Moro and the partnership of several national and international private companies. This CIHEAM Bari Masters course has existed for several years and is ready to be extended to meet the specific challenges and welcome students and young professionals from the Balkan countries. 

This CIHEAM Masters, which will be developed for the first time outside its Institutes, will take place in Albania and be launched in 2024-2025.