SUATAINABLE TOURISM

[MARIA EUGENIA HERNÁNDEZ]

Dear colleagues,
ARAGON FOOD CLUSTER (SPAIN) http://www.aragonalimentacion.com is looking to joining a project proposal regarding sustainable tourism or rural development and food innovation.
Please, feel free to contact to: gerencia@aragonalimentacion.com

[kapajParticipant]

Dear colleagues,
We can contribute with our experience and expertise to your proposed idea as a project partner on rural tourism, innovation and sustainable rural tourism development.

The Agricultural University of Tirana (AUT) is the unique center for undergraduate and graduate studies, scientific research, training and extension in the area of agriculture, food and environment (Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Protection, Agribusiness, Economy and Agrarian Policy, Agro-environment and Ecology, Agro-food Technology, Animal Husbandry and Business, Aquaculture and Fishery Management, Forestry Engineering, Veterinary Medicine. Agricultural University of Tirana (AUT), founded in 1951 is a public university composed of 310 teaching staff members and 250 personnel. There are approximately 14500 students enrolled. AUT consist of 5 faculties, structured in 21 constituent units.
The faculties are: Faculty of Economy and Agribusiness; Faculty of Agriculture and Environment; Faculty of Forestry Sciences; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Faculty of Biotechnology and Food, with about 15.000 students.
AUT was a partner in 12 projects in framework of “Tempus IV” Programme, alongside with other Western and regional universities, projects which focus on the reform and consolidation of higher education in the Balkan countries. It is also partner in 6 projects funded by Erasmus + Programme. AUT has also experience in EU scientific projects (Interreg, IPA-Cross Border Collaboration, FP5, FP6, FP7 and Horizon 2020 Programmes). For the academic year 2016/17, AUT has signed over 20 bilateral agreements with partner institutions from the Erasmus+ Programme countries (KA 1). Proposed project are implemented by respective faculties.
Faculty of “Economy & Agribusiness” (FEA) includes five departments: Department of “Agribusiness Management”, Department of “Economy & Rural Development Policies”, Department of “Finance and Accounting”, Department of “Rural Tourism”, Department of “Business Informatics”
Scientific research has been conducted through participation in: national projects, projects undertaken by the National Agency for Environment; bilateral projects with Greek and Italian government; DAD projects; NATO projects; IMG Tempus projects; World Bank projects; and projects for research and development which were funded by the Albanian government.
As the major center for education and scientific research in the area of rural development, Farm Agribusiness management,tourism development (special focus on rural tourism development), FEA has been the initiator of establishing research-production links. These links have been materialized through the signing of “Memorandum of Understanding” with Albanian business.
FEA has clearly defined nine research areas as scientific priorities, which are as follow:
 Strategies and policies of integrated rural development.
 Regional development and inter – regional integration policies.
 Agricultural policies and their evaluation analysis.
 Management strategies of inputs and outputs in agriculture.
 Management strategies and policies of agribusiness.
 Strategies and policies of farmers integration into markets.
 Management and marketing problems in the values chain.
 Financing strategies and policies of private enterprises in the benefit of their sustainable development.
 Strategies and policies of rural tourism development
Here is a list of recent projects where AUT/FEA has participated.
IPA CBC-“WELLFOOD – Promoting Food Innovation for Wellness in the Adriatic” partners (Al, MN, SRB,BiH, SlO, GR, IT): IPA-CBC – ADRIA FOOTOURING (2012),(ADRIAtic FOOd and TOURism: INnovatinG smes: 2,005,110.10 Euro; partners ALBANIA 2, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA 2, ITALY 5,MONTENEGRO 1, SLOVENIA: IPA-CBC; THE ADRIATIC Olive GROVE (Al, MN, SRB,BiH, SlO, GR): 1CARDS 2000 Networking Project: AL, BA, MK-2 year: 299,975.00 €; CARDS 2000 Curriculum Development: AL, BA, MK: Enhancing and Complementing Postgraduate Education in Balkan Countries-3 year 500,910.00 €; CARDS 2002 Curriculum Development: 1244, AL: Reform of the Agricultural Studies-2 year 266,900.00 €; CARDS 2004 Training Courses for Institution Building: AL, BA, CS, MK Balkan Agri-Sector Initiative for Capacity Building-3 year 468,213.00 €; CARDS 2004 Training Courses for Institution Building AL: Développement institutionnel et professionnel pour une gestion durable des ressources naturelles en Albanie -2 year 255,150.00 €; CARDS 2006 University Management 1244, AL, BA, HR, ME, MK, RS: Support Network for Improvement of the Strategic Planning Improvement of university cooperation in Western Balkan region-2 year 297,340.00 €: Joint Projects – Curricular Reform: Land, agriculture, environment, food tech improvement and regional network of Higher Education 758.947,00 €.
Thanks to the projects, FEA has the most qualified staff in the field of farm and agribusiness management, tourism development with special focus on rural tourism. It has implemented projects dealing with rural tourism management (domestic funded), rural development (funded by EC), farm diversification alternatives (domestic funded) comprising rural tourism as an important alternative. In our institution we have also helped stakeholders (mainly farmers) to improve practical knowledge, new technologies and methods for the promotion of sustainable rural development. The cooperation with other partners’ technical-scientific know-how generated by FEA will be put at the service of the foreseen initiatives and new partnerships within potential projects. In this context the level of collaboration between academic institution and farms, rural farms in the context of tourism sector will increase, and businesses will find a qualified support for getting the latest knowledge and know how in field of sustainable tourism management.
Contact: Dr. Ilir Kapaj
email: ikapaj@ubt.edu.al
Website: http://www.ubt.edu.al/

[Author]

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