The role of Erasmus+ mobility program on higher education in Albania: The case of the University of Tirana

Albania’s higher education system has been through dynamic changes and challenges after the fall of the dictatorship in 1990. Till 2007 there were only state owned universities, but starting from 2017 the high education sector was liberalized. Connections with Erasmus+ as an ambitious EU program that has played an essential role in shaping the landscape of international education and fostering cross-cultural exchange has been made since the opening of the country. Universities made a lot of effort to become more open and to participate into internationals programmes and initiatives. Erasmus, a flagship program of the European Union has played a pivotal role in transforming higher education and fostering international cooperation. The presence of Erasmus in Albania has been crucial for the internationalization of universities in Albania, but especially to students. This paper aims to explore the key objectives, components, and impact of the Erasmus+ program, with a particular focus on its contribution to educational mobility, intercultural understanding, and the development of a more integrated European community. The paper focuses on the impact of Erasmus in Albania, examining the program’s objectives, implementation, challenges, and the broader implications for the country’s educational landscape and cultural exchange.