From the Savings to the Status: Paving the financial capacities in Albania toward the EU Integration

ended

By aligning academia and public debate as complementary tools, the Jean Monnet Chair intents to shed light to the importance of financial matters when it comes to EU integration process. First, it contributes in deepening and expanding the knowledge of the curricula at the MA and PhD level in understanding of banks, money and monetary policy in the Eurozone, the architecture under which the financial system of the Eurozone is developed and the impact in Albanian finances. In auditoriums, the knowledge and debate intents to be spread not only in EU and finance students, but also to those that may be not in direct contact with such subjects but are as interested on these issues as every other citizen in Albania. Secondly, research will be fostered by establishing joint academic papers with experts outside Albania, participation in conferences and usage of an online library with research and books on the economics of the EU, will serve as focal point for researchers and PhD aspirants working with UET and those that cooperate with the institution. Thirdly, the public debate at national level will be enhanced by seminars at other (education) institutions in secondary and tertiary level, with bank specialists and interested stakeholders such as EU diplomats and (un)specialized wide public. The main objectives: 1. To align and significantly improve the quality existing curriculum in EU integration, monetary policy and international finance for MA and PhD programmes at the European University of Tirana, as a model to be followed by other HEIs in Albania and beyond 2. To foster research and critical analysis in the field of EU and monetary policy among students, young and senior scholars so as to prepare academic studies that have the potential to inform policy-making in Albania in lieu of the EU accession 3. To enhance knowledge, reflection and professional capacities among Albanian stakeholders (central/local government, financial and bank system, NGO).