Study trip to Albania: Our travel diary

“Mirësevini në Shqipëri!” – Welcome to Albania!

On Sunday, our FHD students were welcomed by the warmth and vibrancy of Tirana, Albania’s capital city. The group, consisting of students from all three faculties, is exploring the metropolitan region as part of a five-day Erasmus-funded study trip—a unique opportunity to combine international perspectives with their academic studies. The trip was initiated and organized by Jasmin Schöne, Chancellor of the Dresden University of Applied Sciences.

After gaining their first individual impressions of the city, the group met on Monday morning at Skanderbeg Square, the heart of Tirana. From there, they embarked on a typically Albanian bus ride to our partner institution, Barleti University. The modern campus building, situated on a hilltop, impressed not only with its architecture but also with its fantastic view over the city. Following an exceptionally warm welcome from Alma Gjoni, Head of the International Office and Erasmus Coordinator, and Kejda Nuhu, PhD, Project Manager, we were able to enjoy this view from the university’s rooftop café. The hospitality for which Albania is known was immediately evident.

Academically, the visit also offered significant added value. In many areas, the university’s programs closely align with those offered at FHD. During a tour of the campus, students were introduced to facilities such as the STEAM Lab and its innovative study projects. In the coming days, they will have the opportunity to work in the university’s various “Labs” and participate in program-specific seminars—an international academic experience they are unlikely to forget.

Economy, Environment, Government: How Is Albania Shaping Its Future?

The afternoon brought another highlight: the group gained fascinating insights into the work of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ). The focus was on current projects related to economic development, climate protection, energy, and social justice—topics that are becoming increasingly important in academic studies as well.

During discussions with Anisa Xhafa, Portfolio Manager at GIZ, our students had the opportunity to ask questions directly about Albania’s planned accession to the European Union, sustainable transport solutions, and social developments within the country. This practical perspective helped connect theoretical knowledge with real-world projects and placed their observations of the city into a broader context.

To experience Albania’s cultural and culinary side as well, the evening was left open for individual exploration. Whether attending a traditional dance performance, trying Albanian street food, or simply witnessing the city come alive after dark, Tirana revealed its many facets and seemed never to sleep.

We look forward to the coming days and many more exciting experiences. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to our partner, Barleti University, as well as to GIZ for their open and friendly welcome.

To gain a deeper understanding of Albania’s history, our students joined a city tour through Tirana on Tuesday morning. Once again, the tour began at Skanderbeg Square. Here, we learned more about the Albanian national hero Gjergj Kastrioti – Skanderbeg, who led the resistance against the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century and remains a symbol of independence and national identity to this day.

The tour then continued through the government district to the “House of Leaves.” The building, which now serves as a museum, was the headquarters of the secret police during Enver Hoxha’s communist dictatorship (1944–1985). Directly opposite stands the Resurrection Cathedral, one of the largest Orthodox churches in the Balkans. Albania is characterized by remarkable religious diversity: Muslim, Catholic, Orthodox, and Jewish communities coexist peacefully.

A very different kind of challenge awaited us at the Pyramid of Tirana. Climbing its steep steps in the midday heat required considerable effort, but we were rewarded with a breathtaking view over the city. Originally built as a monument to Enver Hoxha, the pyramid has been undergoing gradual transformation since 2021.

The penultimate stop on our tour brought us to the ancient walls of Tirana Castle.

In 2018, the castle—known in Albanian as Kalaja e Tiranës—was transformed into a lively entertainment district resembling an old Turkish bazaar. Traditional-style restaurants and cafés line the narrow streets, and more than a few souvenirs found their way into our bags.

The final stop of the tour was Bunk’Art. These vast underground bunker complexes date back to the Cold War era, when Albania, under Hoxha’s rule, was highly isolated and thousands of bunkers were constructed throughout the country.

German Ground in Albania: Guests at the German Embassy

In the afternoon, a very special item was on the agenda: a visit to the German Embassy in Tirana. Unlike a typical embassy visit, fortunately, ours was not about lost travel documents but rather an exclusive insight into the day-to-day work of diplomacy.       

During a discussion with Jan Maibom, Head of the Cultural and Press Section, and his colleague Albana Rrepa, our students learned more about German-Albanian relations, current political issues, and the diverse responsibilities of the embassy—from visa services and cultural initiatives to economic cooperation.

Our students took the opportunity to ask questions and gain further insights into career paths within the diplomatic service, international cooperation, and the challenges and opportunities of working in an international environment.

We would like to sincerely thank Jan Maibom and Albana Rrepa for their time and warm welcome.

For the third day of our study trip, another visit to Barleti University, our partner university in Albania, was scheduled. Our contacts Alma Gjoni and Dr. Kejda Nuhu welcomed us warmly once again, and we took a seat in a classroom.

The agenda included an introduction to the faculties and study programs at Barleti University. The great thing about this? The overlap with the study programs at the University of Applied Sciences Dresden. Exchange programs such as internships or study abroad semesters are therefore not just a vision for the future, but can be perfectly integrated into the degree program at FHD in terms of content.

Already in the field of design, the similarities in the study structure were clearly noticeable and were particularly interesting for our master’s students in Creative Direction as well as students from the Digital Media Design program. Dr. Gerdi Papa, Head of the Department of Creative Industries, presented current design projects to our students, including the co-design of the new campus building, lighting design, product design, work with the 3D printer, and the VR lab. Participation in exhibitions, such as at the “House of Leaves” in Tirana or the Venice Biennale, also demonstrated how practice-oriented and international the work here is. Impressive!

Afterwards, Prof. Assoc. Aelita Mani, Head of the Department of Economics, Entrepreneurship and Finance, presented her faculty. In the field of business administration as well, there are opportunities for exchange programs with FHD. In the exchange with our group, Prof. Assoc. Aelita Mani highlighted what she considers the most important future skills: adaptability. Closely linked to this is the ability to use new tools such as AI intelligently without becoming dependent on them.

Our Tourism & Event Management students were not left out either: in an engaging presentation, Dr. Elda Mamoci, lecturer in the Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure, introduced the study content, excursions, and projects. Our students were particularly impressed by the wide range of integrated practical experiences at Barleti University. Here as well, study abroad semesters and internships are possible.

Barleti University also has faculties of Social Sciences and Medical Sciences. Degree programs include Psychology, Physiotherapy, and Pharmacy.

On the penultimate day of our trip, we went on a city tour of Durrës. We started at the central Sheshi Liria (“Freedom Square”), which, with its fountains, is a popular meeting place for locals, particularly in the evenings. The square is dominated by the Great Mosque, built in the 1930s, which served as a youth centre during the ban on religion. On one side of the square stands the slightly older town hall, whilst the regional administration buildings and the cultural centre are of more recent date.

From this square, the path led us to the ancient amphitheatre of Durrës. It dates from the 2nd century AD and is one of the largest Roman amphitheatres in the Balkans. It once had a capacity of up to 20,000 spectators. However, the excavation work has not yet been fully completed.

Our route took us along palm-lined boulevards to the vicinity of the port facilities. From here, there are regular ferry services to Italy, including to Bari and Ancona.  

An impressive part of Durrës’s historical heritage is the city wall in the south-west, which adjoins the amphitheatre and the mosque and is particularly well-preserved in this section. The fortifications were constructed in several phases during the Roman period and repaired over the centuries, as the city was fiercely contested, particularly during the Middle Ages. In the 15th century, the Venetians also built a fortress situated above the amphitheatre. On the sea side, the wall ends in a massive tower dating from the Venetian period (14th century). Today, it houses a small multimedia exhibition on the city’s history. 

Afterwards, a walk along the "Volga" seafront promenade made it clear just how much the city is changing: new hotels are springing up, restaurants and cafés line the street, and Durrës is increasingly developing into a tourist hotspot on the Adriatic coast.

The students had the evening free to explore the area further and soak up the atmosphere.

Time for reflection & conclusions from the study trip 

At the end of our trip, our students reflected on their impressions: What have I learnt? What new perspectives have I gained? And how did I find the exchange with Barleti University? 

One key insight was just how valuable direct international exchange is. The insights into everyday student life at a partner university, the conversations with local students and the practical experiences sparked an interest in international exchange for many and inspired some to consider a stay abroad.

At an institutional level, too, the trip was a resounding success: our collaboration with Barleti University was further strengthened, and concrete opportunities for future exchange programmes – such as semesters abroad or internships – were explored in greater depth. Our staff members were also able to engage in professional exchanges with staff from the partner university and further their professional development. 

Furthermore, we have learnt a great deal about Albania as a country over the past few days: visits to the GIZ and the German Embassy made it particularly clear how Albania is developing politically and economically, and what role international relations – particularly with Germany – play in this. 

Last but not least, the trip also had an impact beyond the official programme: new friendships were formed, even across different degree programmes. At the same time, all participants were able to strengthen their intercultural skills and broaden their own horizons.

We look back on our time together with gratitude and are very pleased that this trip came to fruition. We would like to take this opportunity to once again extend our heartfelt thanks to Jasmin Schöne for organising everything and to Paola Yaconis for her support with the planning.