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On 12 October 2026, the Faculty of Economics, University of Tirana, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tirana (CCIT) jointly organised the conference “Bridging Higher Education and Industry for the Digital Future” in Room B203 at FEUT, within the Erasmus+ DERHE project. The conference presented the project’s results and explored their relevance to universities, companies and students. It highlighted the developed courses, learning infrastructure and experiences of university–business cooperation, including student projects and thesis development. The programme included the panel “Industry and Higher Education – Bridging the Skills Gap”, featuring Albana Laknori, Secretary General of CCIT; Fatma Jaupi, Vice Dean of FEUT; Fotelda Dai, Human Resources Director at BALFIN Construction; and Brunaldo Danellari, Production Manager at Coca-Cola Bottling Albania. Panel topics included industry skills requirements, experiences of cooperation with universities and opportunities for furt... >> More info

The University of Tirana, through its Faculty of Economics, in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tirana (CCIT), has completed its company training programme within the Erasmus+ DERHE project. Delivered during 2025–2026, the courses connected academic expertise with businesses’ practical needs in management, process organisation and digital transformation. The programme comprised 11 industry courses, including courses tailored to individual companies and training organised through CCIT for representatives of its member businesses. Training Tailored to Companies’ Sectors and Needs In manufacturing, Maccaferri Group Albania, which provides engineering solutions for civil and environmental works, undertook training in Lean Management, production planning and bottleneck analysis. DIMTECH, active in designing, manufacturing and installing industrial machinery, addressed work organisation, continuous improvement and project planning. At Coca-Cola Bottling Albania, tr... >> More info

When I think of our DERHE project, I think first of my colleagues and the productive, creative collaboration that enriched both our professional and personal lives. The project truly became a catalyst for change, driving the digital transformation of work and life in exactly the way we had hoped. Its results demonstrate how transdisciplinary and international collaboration can strengthen quality and harmonization across the global higher education landscape—a sector undergoing profound transformation. A wonderful example of this collaboration is the partnership between the University of Sarajevo and the University of Ljubljana, culminating in the defense of the master's thesis, "Comparative Analysis of the Motives and Practices of Urban Agriculture in Conditions of Crisis and Contemporary Sustainable Development.” The thesis was defended before a committee comprising Assistant Professor Ilona Rac of the University of Ljubljana, Professor Alen Mujčinović, and Professor Aleksandra Nik... >> More info

The Faculty of Economics, University of Tirana (FEUT), connected student research with practical business challenges through international thesis co-mentoring within the Erasmus+ DERHE project. Working with academic supervisors at FEUT and co-mentors from KU Leuven and the University of Ljubljana, students developed research combining academic methods with questions relevant to organisations in Albania. The initiative supported eleven bachelor’s and master’s theses completed in 2026, covering areas including circular economy, production processes, digitalisation, financial reporting and risk management. International co-mentoring complemented the guidance provided by FEUT supervisors. Through online consultations, written feedback and discussions of research findings, students received support in refining their research questions, selecting methods and developing recommendations. The process also encouraged them to explain the practical significance of their findings and distinguish ... >> More info

Students from the University of Montenegro, the University of Banja Luka and the University of Tirana collaborated on a practical challenge proposed by Montleon DOO, based in Herceg Novi, Montenegro, within the Erasmus+ DERHE project. Coordinated by the University of Montenegro, the project examined how 3D printing parameters affect surface quality, production time and estimated manufacturing costs. It brought together engineering and economics students to connect technical research with business considerations. Engineering students investigated how layer height and printing speeds influenced the surface roughness of parts produced using PLA and PETG filaments. Students from the Faculty of Economics, University of Tirana, contributed the economic analysis, assessing material costs, printing time, equipment depreciation and electricity use. The findings highlighted the importance of considering quality and cost together. For the PLA specimens, faster printing with thicker layers redu... >> More info