reducing the seasonality and develop all inclusive tourism

[kapajParticipant]

Dear colleagues,
We can contribute with our experience and expertise to your proposed idea as a project partner.
Below is a short description of Agricultural University of Tirana/Faculty of Economy and Agribusiness.

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.
The mission of the AUT is focused on the need for the change and transformation and the creation of real capacities worth to society. AUT is one of the most complete educational centers in the country in terms of infrastructure and logistics capacity. It operates within a university campus, with a total area of learning to function with over 36,000 m2, with 50 rooms and 90 lecture halls and seminar practice, with 77 laboratories, some of which are nationally certified. In December the Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education in the UK and Albanian reviewers appointed by PAAHE recommend to the Accreditation Council that at AUT the Albanian State Quality Standards are fully met. Actually, the university offers 62 study programs that are labour market orientated in all study cycles. 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) has relatively new life. It was founded in the year 1971 (at that time faculty of Agrarian Economy). Former faculty of Agrarian Economy was called as such since the end of the year 1994, during that time entire restructuring of Agriculture University of Tirana was done. This restructuring lead in merger of this faculty within framework of Agriculture Faculty with two departments, respectively; Department of “Farm & Agribusiness Management” and Department of “Economy & Rural Development Policies”. Restructuring began in 1994 and ended in 1998, and was the result of close advice from SARA project (American Support for Agriculture Restructuring in Albania). Its fundamental aim is to offer diplomas required by the agricultural and agribusiness sector in a free and open market economy.
In 2007, as result of restructuring of former “Agriculture Faculty”, the Faculty of “Economy & Agribusiness” was founded with six 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 at AUT is considered an essential component of the academic life and a concrete contribution to the progress of Albanian agriculture, as well. 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 agriculture and food, 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.
 Fanancing 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/

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