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"In all segments SEEU is specific and unique. This year, the seventh faculty, i.e., the Faculty of Technical Sciences, also begins with work, and only with so few faculties SEEU has these dimensions. Imagine if we had 20 or 30 faculties, as some public universities (UKIM, UGD or UT), and with this quality system, where would SEEU be?", notes among other things in the interview for INA Rector Bexheti.
INA: We are in a period of enrolment in the universities around the country. Why should SEEU be chosen to study and what distinguishes it from other universities?
Bexheti: SEEU is a unique university, trilingual, with curricula that are more suitable for the labor market, quality system according to international standards (internationally supervised), with committed staff, who regularly are trained and updated for the digital generations, with skills acquisition system (like technological, linguistic, communicative, intercultural), and not by chance among the only Albanian-speaking universities--SEEU is ranked first by "QS Ranking for 2024", even before the University of Tirana. The employability of SEEU students is based on evidence and not by perceptions and it is around 75 to 80% (including those who voluntarily do not seek work) within 6 months after the graduation.
INA: Which are the innovative study programs that students express interest in building their successful careers?
Bexheti: Almost all study programs (about 30 undergraduate) have a certain preference for certain segments. Even the most traditional faculties, such as the Faculty of Law, for example last year it took first place in the regional competitions of Tirana in the competition of 16 law faculties from the region, while three weeks ago it was placed in the 1/8 of the finals in Nuremberg, among European universities. Let's not talk about the attractiveness of the Faculty of Contemporary Sciences and Technologies (CST), the departments of Architecture and Design, those of Business and Economics, up to the newest Faculty of Health Sciences and that of Technical Sciences.
INA: SEEU will soon turn 24 years old, what are the results so far or the affirmation of this temple of knowledge in the university world?
Bexheti: The consolidation and development of academic and scientific growth as well as the impact on society for almost a quarter of a century make SEEU among the most attractive universities in the country and region. The fact alone is that despite the permanent decrease in the number of graduates, youth going to the West and preferring to study there, as well as despite the decrease in the birth rate, SEEU manages to grow every year (on average around 5% in the last six years). These are results that speak for themselves. For the first time this year, we are the winner of the megaproject in alliance with 8 other reputable European universities (Challenge Europe), with a budget of around 8 million euros (SEEU share is over 1.1 million euros), which also speaks for the scientific results. It is the only university in the region with a component of international students, in the full sense of the word. About 10% of students are international from more than 7-8 countries worldwide. In all segments SEEU is specific and unique. This year, the seventh faculty, the Faculty of Technical Sciences, also begins with work, and only with so few faculties SEEU has these dimensions. Imagine if we had 20 or 30 faculties, as some public universities (UKIM, UGD or UT), and with this quality system, where would SEEU be.
INA: SEEU is generally promoted as a research university. However, it is proud of the rare ratio of 1 lecturer to 20 students, which seems quite ideal for teaching. How do you see the connection between research and teaching at SEEU?
Bexheti: Scientific research at SEEU is not only demagogic rhetoric, but essential. The research performance indicators are part of the construction of the salary of everyone individually with a specific weight (ponder) of about 20% of it. The number of researches and publications in highly relevant scientific journals with an impact factor and a large number of citations is also rewarded with a specific financial fee on top of the regular compensation. So, every research and scientific achievement is really evaluated with a system defined in advance and approved by the SEEU Council (R&R-Ranking and Remuneration). Findings and scientific facts for teaching are also built on the basis of research. The Doctoral School with 40-50 students per academic year enrolled (although over 150 students apply annually) produces a large research background and represents the most productive research platform in the country.
INA: As a university, how do you manage to combine teaching by engaging professional lecturers, but also personalities from the fields of business, politics and journalism?
Bexheti: Practical teaching in all fields, including legal, social and communication fields, in addition to business, informatics and technology, is another feature that distinguishes this university. Therefore, it remains very attractive even for the new generations (Generation Z) who less and less prefer to learn mechanically and have a declining preference for reading! In addition to journalists in communication programs, notaries, lawyers, bailiffs, judges and prosecutors in law programs, then successful businessmen and economic policy makers in economics and business programs, IT engineers (such as those in software development, etc. those hardware) in Computer Science programs up to the architectural studio and artists (painters) and successful designers, all these and not only, are part of practical teaching at SEEU. Therefore, students are more easily employed and are more successful in the labor market, as I elaborated above.
INA: As for the state of education and reforms that do not produce results even in higher education, the world rankings are placing our universities at the bottom of the lists. The PISA results are also worrying. Where do you target the weaknesses and what needs to be done as priorities?
Bexheti: The problem lies in the education system in its complexity, at all levels, but the peak of improvisation is reached in higher education. As long as the system is based on quantity and form rather than quality and substance, it is difficult to claim successful changes. I'm afraid to use the term "reform" because it alludes to "pro-forma"! The issue is too complex to explain in a few lines. For 18 months now, I have been leading the Interuniversity Conference and the Rectors' Conference (about 17 universities) and we used the opportunity that once "politics" focused on this year's elections, we worked for three months on drafting the text of the Law on Higher Education, which (for the first time after three decades) was unanimously drafted by the higher education sector. Now it remains for politics to examine, accept or reject, but all responsibility lies directly with it! Tomorrow, it cannot be justified (as so far) that the universities themselves have drafted the law.
INA: The new Minister of Education, Ms. Vesna Janevska announced reforms in higher education, such as dual education in universities, which means an increase in practice, then revision of universities and university departments where there will be reaccreditation and other reforms. How do you rate these notices?
Bexheti: Minister of Education and Science--Prof. Dr. Vesna Janevska has ambitious plans. Two weeks ago, we met in a working meeting with her and the newly elected deputy-minister--Lulzim Aliu, during which we discussed many aspects of higher education and science. We hope to find the support of the Government to implement some (even radical) changes, based not on daily policies, but on the preliminary evaluations that will be made by the Evaluation Council, a competent body at the Agency for Quality in Higher Education in RNM.
INA: What is your message to all those who choose SEEU, but also your vision as Rector for the development and improvement of this institution of higher education?
Bexheti: Thank you for the opportunity once again to address high-school graduates through your platform. Freedom of choice remains the foundation of human freedom. Choose SEEU, the university of opportunities and applied knowledge, personal and individual service for each student with full respect of the ethical code. Throughout the study, you can request any service, apart from passing and failing grades. You only need one semester to be convinced about this. (Interviewed by: Naser Pajaziti/INA)