Brain Gain policies and their Impact on the European Integration process of Albania

On the Friday of June 4th 2010, European Movement Albania (EMA) in collaboration with Group 484 and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) in the facilities of Rogner Hotel held the forum titled “Brain Gain policies and their Impact on the European Integration process of Albania”.The forum analyzed the policies of brain gain that the Albanian government has undertaken in the recent years and their impact on the integration processes that our country is undergoing.

The phenomenon of brain drain and consequently the need to restitute it, has become even more prominent as the push for the free travel due to visa liberalization has gained momentum, and the need for qualified staff who can contribute positively to the reforms undertaken has increased drastically.

In the introductory remarks, Mr. Gledis Gjipali, Executive Director of EMA highlighted the need for further analysis and studies of the brain drain and brain gain issues, as they are directly correlated with the development and Europeanization of the country.

Ms. Blerta Hoxha, policy researcher at European Movement Albania presented the main findings of the organization both at local and regional levels. She pointed out to the migratory trend that plagued Albania for years, hindering its further cultural development and cultivation of intellectual environments, has been a decreasing one. She also analyzed the economic, social and political reasons that form the core of the problem. As she discussed the recent policies that the government has started implementing, she recommended; focusing even more on initiatives like Brain Gain, a greater focus on the private sector which besides the government can also play an important role in brain gain, more scientific research and innovation, and the establishment of network that would connect the intellectuals abroad enabling them to contribute without having to physically be present in the country.

Mrs. Nora Malaj, Deputy-minister of Education and Sciences, praised the incentives of civil society to debate the need for brain gain policies. She specifically focused on the achievements of the Excellence Fund, directed by the Ministry of Education and Sciences. Mrs. Malaj explained the procedures implemented for the selection of the candidates eligible to receive funding, who would later have to return and contribute into the public administration. She stated that in 2010 alone, 31 students benefited from the fund to receive higher education abroad.

Afterwards, the forum was opened to questions and comments from the participants who represented the academia, public institutions, civil society, private sector and international organizations represented in Tirana. The discussion focused mainly on the transparency of the selection process for the winners of the Excellence Fund and the need for cooperation between public and private sectors to further the policies of brain gain.